import subprocess from unittest.mock import patch def update_conf(): output = subprocess.check_output(['ls'], stderr=subprocess.STDOUT) @patch('subprocess.check_output') def test_update_conf(self, subprocess_function, is_correct_func): def check_update_conf(args, stderr): pass def check_proxy_update(args, stderr): raise AssertionError() subprocess_function.side_effect = check_update_conf update_conf() subprocess_function.side_effect = check_proxy_update update_conf()