diff --git a/pyobs/modules/test/standalone.py b/pyobs/modules/test/standalone.py
index 362fbe67..9283c6dc 100644
--- a/pyobs/modules/test/standalone.py
+++ b/pyobs/modules/test/standalone.py
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ async def _message_func(self):
         """Thread function for async processing."""
         # loop until closing
         while True:
-            # log message
-            log.info(self._message)
+            await self._loop()
 
-            # sleep a little
-            await asyncio.sleep(self._interval)
+    async def _loop(self):
+        log.info(self._message)
+        await asyncio.sleep(self._interval)
 
 
 __all__ = ["StandAlone"]
diff --git a/pyobs/utils/skyflats/flatfielder.py b/pyobs/utils/skyflats/flatfielder.py
index 7314b6d4..da8cb349 100644
--- a/pyobs/utils/skyflats/flatfielder.py
+++ b/pyobs/utils/skyflats/flatfielder.py
@@ -88,7 +88,9 @@ def __init__(
         self._abort = asyncio.Event()
 
         # pointing
-        self._pointing: Optional[SkyFlatsBasePointing] = self.get_safe_object(pointing, SkyFlatsBasePointing)
+        self._pointing: Optional[SkyFlatsBasePointing] = None
+        if pointing is not None:
+            self._pointing = self.get_safe_object(pointing, SkyFlatsBasePointing)
 
         # state machine
         self._state = FlatFielder.State.INIT
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 290f3f22..c70aa8ab 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "pyobs-core"
 packages = [{ include = "pyobs" }]
-version = "1.7.0"
+version = "1.7.1"
 description = "robotic telescope software"
 authors = ["Tim-Oliver Husser <thusser@uni-goettingen.de>"]
 license = "MIT"
diff --git a/tests/modules/test/__init__.py b/tests/modules/test/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/tests/modules/test/standalone.py b/tests/modules/test/standalone.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e4343154
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/modules/test/standalone.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import asyncio
+import logging
+
+import pytest
+
+from pyobs.modules.test import StandAlone
+
+
+def test_default():
+    module = StandAlone()
+    assert module._message == "Hello world"
+    assert module._interval == 10
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_loop(mocker, caplog):
+    mocker.patch("asyncio.sleep", return_value=None)
+    module = StandAlone("Testmessage", 3)
+
+    with caplog.at_level(logging.INFO):
+        await module._loop()
+
+    assert caplog.messages[0] == "Testmessage"
+    asyncio.sleep.assert_called_once_with(3)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_background_task():
+    module = StandAlone()
+    assert module._message_func in module._background_tasks
diff --git a/tests/utils/skyflats/test_scheduler.py b/tests/utils/skyflats/test_scheduler.py
index 13bf6b7c..a65ddf4a 100644
--- a/tests/utils/skyflats/test_scheduler.py
+++ b/tests/utils/skyflats/test_scheduler.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 from pyobs.utils.skyflats import Scheduler
 from pyobs.utils.skyflats.priorities import ConstSkyflatPriorities
 from pyobs.utils.time import Time
-
+import astropy.units as u
 
 pytest_plugins = ("pytest_asyncio",)
 
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_scheduler():
     # init observer and time
-    observer = Observer.at_site("SAAO")
+    saao_observer = Observer(longitude=20.8108 * u.deg, latitude=-32.375823 * u.deg,
+                             elevation=1798.0 * u.m, timezone="UTC")
     now = Time("2019-11-21T17:10:00Z")
 
     # have some test functions
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ async def test_scheduler():
     priorities = ConstSkyflatPriorities({("B", (1, 1)): 1, ("V", (1, 1)): 2, ("R", (1, 1)): 3})
 
     # create scheduler
-    scheduler = Scheduler(functions, priorities, observer)
+    scheduler = Scheduler(functions, priorities, saao_observer)
     await scheduler(now)
 
     # test order