diff --git a/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php b/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php
index 6b3445e45f7..ff21674ce0a 100644
--- a/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php
+++ b/mod/forum/tests/externallib_test.php
@@ -2609,7 +2609,6 @@ class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
      * Test get forum posts by user id.
      */
     public function test_mod_forum_get_discussion_posts_by_userid() {
-        global $DB;
         $this->resetAfterTest(true);
 
         $urlfactory = mod_forum\local\container::get_url_factory();
@@ -2660,12 +2659,15 @@ class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $forum1 = self::getDataGenerator()->create_module('forum', $record);
         $forum1context = context_module::instance($forum1->cmid);
 
+        $time = time();
         // Add discussions to the forums.
         $record = new stdClass();
         $record->course = $course1->id;
         $record->userid = $user1->id;
         $record->forum = $forum1->id;
         $record->timemodified = 1;
+        $record->timestart = $time - 200;
+        $record->timeend = $time - 100;
         $discussion1 = $forumgenerator->create_discussion($record);
         $discussion1firstpost = $postvault->get_first_post_for_discussion_ids([$discussion1->id]);
         $discussion1firstpost = $discussion1firstpost[$discussion1->firstpost];
@@ -2676,6 +2678,8 @@ class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         $record->userid = $user1->id;
         $record->forum = $forum1->id;
         $record->timemodified = 2;
+        $record->timestart = $time - 200;
+        $record->timeend = $time - 100;
         $discussion2 = $forumgenerator->create_discussion($record);
         $discussion2firstpost = $postvault->get_first_post_for_discussion_ids([$discussion2->id]);
         $discussion2firstpost = $discussion2firstpost[$discussion2->firstpost];
@@ -2723,18 +2727,6 @@ class mod_forum_external_testcase extends externallib_advanced_testcase {
         // So the user automatically gets mod/forum:viewdiscussion on all forums of the course.
         $this->getDataGenerator()->enrol_user($user1->id, $course1->id, 'teacher');
         $this->getDataGenerator()->enrol_user($user2->id, $course1->id);
-        // Changed display period for the discussions in past.
-        $time = time();
-        $discussion = new \stdClass();
-        $discussion->id = $discussion1->id;
-        $discussion->timestart = $time - 200;
-        $discussion->timeend = $time - 100;
-        $DB->update_record('forum_discussions', $discussion);
-        $discussion = new \stdClass();
-        $discussion->id = $discussion2->id;
-        $discussion->timestart = $time - 200;
-        $discussion->timeend = $time - 100;
-        $DB->update_record('forum_discussions', $discussion);
         // Create what we expect to be returned when querying the discussion.
         $expectedposts = array(
             'discussions' => array(),