diff --git a/freqtrade/analyze.py b/freqtrade/analyze.py
index ba57d66c5..8edf86340 100644
--- a/freqtrade/analyze.py
+++ b/freqtrade/analyze.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Functions to analyze ticker data with indicators and produce buy and sell signal
 import logging
 from datetime import timedelta
 from enum import Enum
+from typing import List, Dict
 
 import arrow
 import talib.abstract as ta
@@ -113,18 +114,13 @@ def populate_sell_trend(dataframe: DataFrame) -> DataFrame:
     return dataframe
 
 
-def analyze_ticker(pair: str) -> DataFrame:
+def analyze_ticker(ticker_history: List[Dict]) -> DataFrame:
     """
-    Get ticker data for given currency pair, push it to a DataFrame and
+    Parses the given ticker history and returns a populated DataFrame
     add several TA indicators and buy signal to it
     :return DataFrame with ticker data and indicator data
     """
-    ticker_hist = get_ticker_history(pair)
-    if not ticker_hist:
-        logger.warning('Empty ticker history for pair %s', pair)
-        return DataFrame()
-
-    dataframe = parse_ticker_dataframe(ticker_hist)
+    dataframe = parse_ticker_dataframe(ticker_history)
     dataframe = populate_indicators(dataframe)
     dataframe = populate_buy_trend(dataframe)
     dataframe = populate_sell_trend(dataframe)
@@ -137,8 +133,13 @@ def get_signal(pair: str, signal: SignalType) -> bool:
     :param pair: pair in format BTC_ANT or BTC-ANT
     :return: True if pair is good for buying, False otherwise
     """
+    ticker_hist = get_ticker_history(pair)
+    if not ticker_hist:
+        logger.warning('Empty ticker history for pair %s', pair)
+        return False
+
     try:
-        dataframe = analyze_ticker(pair)
+        dataframe = analyze_ticker(ticker_hist)
     except ValueError as ex:
         logger.warning('Unable to analyze ticker for pair %s: %s', pair, str(ex))
         return False
diff --git a/freqtrade/misc.py b/freqtrade/misc.py
index 97611601b..784e4903e 100644
--- a/freqtrade/misc.py
+++ b/freqtrade/misc.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ import argparse
 import enum
 import json
 import logging
-import os
 import time
 from typing import Any, Callable, List, Dict
 
@@ -129,9 +128,11 @@ def parse_args(args: List[str]):
 
 def build_subcommands(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
     """ Builds and attaches all subcommands """
+    from freqtrade.optimize import backtesting
+
     subparsers = parser.add_subparsers(dest='subparser')
     backtest = subparsers.add_parser('backtesting', help='backtesting module')
-    backtest.set_defaults(func=start_backtesting)
+    backtest.set_defaults(func=backtesting.start)
     backtest.add_argument(
         '-l', '--live',
         action='store_true',
@@ -154,25 +155,6 @@ def build_subcommands(parser: argparse.ArgumentParser) -> None:
     )
 
 
-def start_backtesting(args) -> None:
-    """
-    Exports all args as environment variables and starts backtesting via pytest.
-    :param args: arguments namespace
-    :return:
-    """
-    import pytest
-
-    os.environ.update({
-        'BACKTEST': 'true',
-        'BACKTEST_LIVE': 'true' if args.live else '',
-        'BACKTEST_CONFIG': args.config,
-        'BACKTEST_TICKER_INTERVAL': str(args.ticker_interval),
-        'BACKTEST_REALISTIC_SIMULATION': 'true' if args.realistic_simulation else '',
-    })
-    path = os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'tests', 'test_backtesting.py')
-    pytest.main(['-s', path])
-
-
 # Required json-schema for user specified config
 CONF_SCHEMA = {
     'type': 'object',
diff --git a/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py b/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4cffcee10
--- /dev/null
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+from . import backtesting
diff --git a/freqtrade/tests/test_backtesting.py b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
similarity index 81%
rename from freqtrade/tests/test_backtesting.py
rename to freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
index 36c701426..ea861ee84 100644
--- a/freqtrade/tests/test_backtesting.py
+++ b/freqtrade/optimize/backtesting.py
@@ -2,11 +2,9 @@
 
 
 import logging
-import os
 from typing import Tuple, Dict
 
 import arrow
-import pytest
 from pandas import DataFrame
 from tabulate import tabulate
 
@@ -83,12 +81,12 @@ def generate_text_table(data: Dict[str, Dict], results: DataFrame, stake_currenc
     return tabulate(tabular_data, headers=headers)
 
 
-def backtest(config: Dict, processed, mocker, max_open_trades=0, realistic=True):
+def backtest(config: Dict, processed: Dict[str, DataFrame],
+             max_open_trades: int = 0, realistic: bool = True) -> DataFrame:
     """
     Implements backtesting functionality
     :param config: config to use
     :param processed: a processed dictionary with format {pair, data}
-    :param mocker: mocker instance
     :param max_open_trades: maximum number of concurrent trades (default: 0, disabled)
     :param realistic: do we try to simulate realistic trades? (default: True)
     :return: DataFrame
@@ -96,7 +94,6 @@ def backtest(config: Dict, processed, mocker, max_open_trades=0, realistic=True)
     trades = []
     trade_count_lock = {}
     exchange._API = Bittrex({'key': '', 'secret': ''})
-    mocker.patch.dict('freqtrade.main._CONF', config)
     for pair, pair_data in processed.items():
         pair_data['buy'], pair_data['sell'] = 0, 0
         ticker = populate_sell_trend(populate_buy_trend(pair_data))
@@ -138,38 +135,23 @@ def backtest(config: Dict, processed, mocker, max_open_trades=0, realistic=True)
     return DataFrame.from_records(trades, columns=labels)
 
 
-def get_max_open_trades(config):
-    if not os.environ.get('BACKTEST_REALISTIC_SIMULATION'):
-        return 0
-    print('Using max_open_trades: {} ...'.format(config['max_open_trades']))
-    return config['max_open_trades']
-
-
-@pytest.mark.skipif(not os.environ.get('BACKTEST'), reason="BACKTEST not set")
-def test_backtest(backtest_conf, mocker):
+def start(args):
     print('')
     exchange._API = Bittrex({'key': '', 'secret': ''})
 
-    # Load configuration file based on env variable
-    conf_path = os.environ.get('BACKTEST_CONFIG')
-    if conf_path:
-        print('Using config: {} ...'.format(conf_path))
-        config = load_config(conf_path)
-    else:
-        config = backtest_conf
+    print('Using config: {} ...'.format(args.config))
+    config = load_config(args.config)
 
-    # Parse ticker interval
-    ticker_interval = int(os.environ.get('BACKTEST_TICKER_INTERVAL') or 5)
-    print('Using ticker_interval: {} ...'.format(ticker_interval))
+    print('Using ticker_interval: {} ...'.format(args.ticker_interval))
 
     data = {}
-    if os.environ.get('BACKTEST_LIVE'):
+    if args.live:
         print('Downloading data for all pairs in whitelist ...')
         for pair in config['exchange']['pair_whitelist']:
-            data[pair] = exchange.get_ticker_history(pair, ticker_interval)
+            data[pair] = exchange.get_ticker_history(pair, args.ticker_interval)
     else:
         print('Using local backtesting data (ignoring whitelist in given config)...')
-        data = load_backtesting_data(ticker_interval)
+        data = load_backtesting_data(args.ticker_interval)
 
     print('Using stake_currency: {} ...\nUsing stake_amount: {} ...'.format(
         config['stake_currency'], config['stake_amount']
@@ -181,8 +163,17 @@ def test_backtest(backtest_conf, mocker):
         min_date.isoformat(), max_date.isoformat()
     ))
 
+    max_open_trades = 0
+    if args.realistic_simulation:
+        print('Using max_open_trades: {} ...'.format(config['max_open_trades']))
+        max_open_trades = config['max_open_trades']
+
+    from freqtrade import main
+    main._CONF = config
+
     # Execute backtest and print results
-    realistic = os.environ.get('BACKTEST_REALISTIC_SIMULATION')
-    results = backtest(config, preprocess(data), mocker, get_max_open_trades(config), realistic)
+    results = backtest(
+        config, preprocess(data), max_open_trades, args.realistic_simulation
+    )
     print('====================== BACKTESTING REPORT ======================================\n\n')
     print(generate_text_table(data, results, config['stake_currency']))
diff --git a/freqtrade/tests/__init__.py b/freqtrade/tests/__init__.py
index c5cc708c9..ebebe7c98 100644
--- a/freqtrade/tests/__init__.py
+++ b/freqtrade/tests/__init__.py
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
 # pragma pylint: disable=missing-docstring
 import json
 import os
+from typing import Optional, List
 
 
-def load_backtesting_data(ticker_interval: int = 5):
+def load_backtesting_data(ticker_interval: int = 5, pairs: Optional[List[str]] = None):
     path = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(__file__))
     result = {}
-    pairs = [
+    _pairs = pairs or [
         'BTC_BCC', 'BTC_ETH', 'BTC_DASH', 'BTC_POWR', 'BTC_ETC',
         'BTC_VTC', 'BTC_WAVES', 'BTC_LSK', 'BTC_XLM', 'BTC_OK',
     ]
-    for pair in pairs:
+    for pair in _pairs:
         with open('{abspath}/testdata/{pair}-{ticker_interval}.json'.format(
             abspath=path,
             pair=pair,
diff --git a/freqtrade/tests/test_analyze.py b/freqtrade/tests/test_analyze.py
index c62639997..5af612a7e 100644
--- a/freqtrade/tests/test_analyze.py
+++ b/freqtrade/tests/test_analyze.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # pragma pylint: disable=missing-docstring,W0621
 import json
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 
 import arrow
 import pytest
@@ -35,20 +36,30 @@ def test_populates_sell_trend(result):
 
 
 def test_returns_latest_buy_signal(mocker):
-    buydf = DataFrame([{'buy': 1, 'date': arrow.utcnow()}])
-    mocker.patch('freqtrade.analyze.analyze_ticker', return_value=buydf)
+    mocker.patch('freqtrade.analyze.get_ticker_history', return_value=MagicMock())
+    mocker.patch(
+        'freqtrade.analyze.analyze_ticker',
+        return_value=DataFrame([{'buy': 1, 'date': arrow.utcnow()}])
+    )
     assert get_signal('BTC-ETH', SignalType.BUY)
 
-    buydf = DataFrame([{'buy': 0, 'date': arrow.utcnow()}])
-    mocker.patch('freqtrade.analyze.analyze_ticker', return_value=buydf)
+    mocker.patch(
+        'freqtrade.analyze.analyze_ticker',
+        return_value=DataFrame([{'buy': 0, 'date': arrow.utcnow()}])
+    )
     assert not get_signal('BTC-ETH', SignalType.BUY)
 
 
 def test_returns_latest_sell_signal(mocker):
-    selldf = DataFrame([{'sell': 1, 'date': arrow.utcnow()}])
-    mocker.patch('freqtrade.analyze.analyze_ticker', return_value=selldf)
+    mocker.patch('freqtrade.analyze.get_ticker_history', return_value=MagicMock())
+    mocker.patch(
+        'freqtrade.analyze.analyze_ticker',
+        return_value=DataFrame([{'sell': 1, 'date': arrow.utcnow()}])
+    )
     assert get_signal('BTC-ETH', SignalType.SELL)
 
-    selldf = DataFrame([{'sell': 0, 'date': arrow.utcnow()}])
-    mocker.patch('freqtrade.analyze.analyze_ticker', return_value=selldf)
+    mocker.patch(
+        'freqtrade.analyze.analyze_ticker',
+        return_value=DataFrame([{'sell': 0, 'date': arrow.utcnow()}])
+    )
     assert not get_signal('BTC-ETH', SignalType.SELL)
diff --git a/freqtrade/tests/test_hyperopt.py b/freqtrade/tests/test_hyperopt.py
index ab4b34674..5face5837 100644
--- a/freqtrade/tests/test_hyperopt.py
+++ b/freqtrade/tests/test_hyperopt.py
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ from pandas import DataFrame
 
 from freqtrade import exchange
 from freqtrade.exchange import Bittrex
+from freqtrade.optimize.backtesting import backtest, format_results
+from freqtrade.optimize.backtesting import preprocess
 from freqtrade.tests import load_backtesting_data
-from freqtrade.tests.test_backtesting import backtest, format_results
-from freqtrade.tests.test_backtesting import preprocess
 from freqtrade.vendor.qtpylib.indicators import crossed_above
 
 logging.disable(logging.DEBUG)  # disable debug logs that slow backtesting a lot
diff --git a/freqtrade/tests/test_misc.py b/freqtrade/tests/test_misc.py
index a6f61d58b..9748deeea 100644
--- a/freqtrade/tests/test_misc.py
+++ b/freqtrade/tests/test_misc.py
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 # pragma pylint: disable=missing-docstring,C0103
 import json
-import os
 import time
-from argparse import Namespace
 from copy import deepcopy
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 
 import pytest
 from jsonschema import ValidationError
 
-from freqtrade.misc import throttle, parse_args, start_backtesting, load_config
+from freqtrade.misc import throttle, parse_args, load_config
 
 
 def test_throttle():
@@ -64,7 +62,7 @@ def test_parse_args_dynamic_whitelist():
 
 
 def test_parse_args_backtesting(mocker):
-    backtesting_mock = mocker.patch('freqtrade.misc.start_backtesting', MagicMock())
+    backtesting_mock = mocker.patch('freqtrade.optimize.backtesting.start', MagicMock())
     args = parse_args(['backtesting'])
     assert args is None
     assert backtesting_mock.call_count == 1
@@ -87,7 +85,7 @@ def test_parse_args_backtesting_invalid():
 
 
 def test_parse_args_backtesting_custom(mocker):
-    backtesting_mock = mocker.patch('freqtrade.misc.start_backtesting', MagicMock())
+    backtesting_mock = mocker.patch('freqtrade.optimize.backtesting.start', MagicMock())
     args = parse_args(['-c', 'test_conf.json', 'backtesting', '--live', '--ticker-interval', '1'])
     assert args is None
     assert backtesting_mock.call_count == 1
@@ -101,31 +99,6 @@ def test_parse_args_backtesting_custom(mocker):
     assert call_args.ticker_interval == 1
 
 
-def test_start_backtesting(mocker):
-    pytest_mock = mocker.patch('pytest.main', MagicMock())
-    env_mock = mocker.patch('os.environ', {})
-    args = Namespace(
-        config='config.json',
-        live=True,
-        loglevel=20,
-        ticker_interval=1,
-        realistic_simulation=True,
-    )
-    start_backtesting(args)
-    assert env_mock == {
-        'BACKTEST': 'true',
-        'BACKTEST_LIVE': 'true',
-        'BACKTEST_CONFIG': 'config.json',
-        'BACKTEST_TICKER_INTERVAL': '1',
-        'BACKTEST_REALISTIC_SIMULATION': 'true',
-    }
-    assert pytest_mock.call_count == 1
-
-    main_call_args = pytest_mock.call_args[0][0]
-    assert main_call_args[0] == '-s'
-    assert main_call_args[1].endswith(os.path.join('freqtrade', 'tests', 'test_backtesting.py'))
-
-
 def test_load_config(default_conf, mocker):
     file_mock = mocker.patch('freqtrade.misc.open', mocker.mock_open(
         read_data=json.dumps(default_conf)
diff --git a/freqtrade/tests/test_optimize_backtesting.py b/freqtrade/tests/test_optimize_backtesting.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..36f4cd144
--- /dev/null
+++ b/freqtrade/tests/test_optimize_backtesting.py
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# pragma pylint: disable=missing-docstring,W0212
+
+
+from freqtrade import exchange
+from freqtrade.exchange import Bittrex
+from freqtrade.optimize.backtesting import backtest, preprocess
+from freqtrade.tests import load_backtesting_data
+
+
+def test_backtest(backtest_conf, mocker):
+    mocker.patch.dict('freqtrade.main._CONF', backtest_conf)
+    exchange._API = Bittrex({'key': '', 'secret': ''})
+
+    data = load_backtesting_data(ticker_interval=5, pairs=['BTC_ETH'])
+    results = backtest(backtest_conf, preprocess(data), 10, True)
+    num_resutls = len(results)
+    assert num_resutls > 0
+