diff --git a/test/test_download.py b/test/test_download.py
index 71708788f..a01fc7f20 100644
--- a/test/test_download.py
+++ b/test/test_download.py
@@ -123,8 +123,10 @@ def generator(test_case, tname):
         params['outtmpl'] = tname + '_' + params['outtmpl']
         if is_playlist and 'playlist' not in test_case:
             params.setdefault('extract_flat', 'in_playlist')
-            if traverse_obj(test_case, 'playlist_count', 'playlist_maxcount', default=-1) < 0:
-                params.setdefault('playlistend', test_case.get('playlist_mincount'))
+            # only process enough items for specified tests
+            pl_counts = traverse_obj(test_case, (None, ('playlist_count', 'playlist_mincount', 'playlist_maxcount')))
+            if pl_counts:
+                params.setdefault('playlistend', max(pl_counts) + 1)
             params.setdefault('skip_download', True)
 
         ydl = YoutubeDL(params, auto_init=False)