diff --git a/gramps/cli/user.py b/gramps/cli/user.py
index 815da7df9..72ee54f86 100644
--- a/gramps/cli/user.py
+++ b/gramps/cli/user.py
@@ -44,10 +44,10 @@ _SPINNER = ['|', '/', '-', '\\']
 # User class
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class User(user.User):
+class User(user.UserBase):
     """
     This class provides a means to interact with the user via CLI.
-    It implements the interface in :class:`.gen.user.User`
+    It implements the interface in :class:`.gen.user.UserBase`
     """
     def __init__(self, callback=None, error=None,
                  auto_accept=False, quiet=False,
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class User(user.User):
         :param error: If given, notify_error delegates to this callback
         :type error: function(title, error)
         """
-        user.User.__init__(self, callback, error, uistate, dbstate)
+        user.UserBase.__init__(self, callback, error, uistate, dbstate)
         self.steps = 0;
         self.current_step = 0;
         self._input = input
diff --git a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/event_rules_test.py b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/event_rules_test.py
index 56125ed7c..f158ee45d 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/event_rules_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/event_rules_test.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import os
 from ....db.utils import import_as_dict
 from ....filters import GenericFilterFactory
 from ....const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from ....user import User
 
 from ..event import (
     AllEvents, HasType, HasIdOf, HasGallery, RegExpIdOf, HasCitation, HasNote,
diff --git a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/family_rules_test.py b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/family_rules_test.py
index a5e4d7716..2cce8d523 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/family_rules_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/family_rules_test.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import os
 from ....db.utils import import_as_dict
 from ....filters import GenericFilterFactory
 from ....const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from ....user import User
 
 from ..family import (
     AllFamilies, HasRelType, HasGallery, HasIdOf, HasLDS, HasNote, RegExpIdOf,
diff --git a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/media_rules_test.py b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/media_rules_test.py
index e2877c48e..9c289b064 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/media_rules_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/media_rules_test.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import os
 from ....db.utils import import_as_dict
 from ....filters import GenericFilterFactory
 from ....const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from ....user import User
 
 from ..media import (
     AllMedia, HasIdOf, RegExpIdOf, HasCitation, HasNoteRegexp,
diff --git a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/note_rules_test.py b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/note_rules_test.py
index df06fddff..c71714a94 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/note_rules_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/note_rules_test.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import os
 from ....db.utils import import_as_dict
 from ....filters import GenericFilterFactory
 from ....const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from ....user import User
 
 from ..note import (
     AllNotes, HasIdOf, RegExpIdOf, HasNote, MatchesRegexpOf,
diff --git a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/person_rules_test.py b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/person_rules_test.py
index eb234009f..900afcfc1 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/person_rules_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/person_rules_test.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import os
 from ....db.utils import import_as_dict
 from ....filters import GenericFilter
 from ....const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from ....user import User
 
 from ..person import (
     Disconnected, Everyone, FamilyWithIncompleteEvent, HasAlternateName,
diff --git a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/place_rules_test.py b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/place_rules_test.py
index 947c59c56..8d8c44afe 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/place_rules_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/place_rules_test.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import os
 from ....db.utils import import_as_dict
 from ....filters import GenericFilterFactory
 from ....const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from ....user import User
 
 from ..place import (
     AllPlaces, HasCitation, HasGallery, HasIdOf, RegExpIdOf, HasNote,
diff --git a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/repository_rules_test.py b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/repository_rules_test.py
index 7ebeeb0bf..8d6728e63 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/repository_rules_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/filters/rules/test/repository_rules_test.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import os
 from ....db.utils import import_as_dict
 from ....filters import GenericFilterFactory
 from ....const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from ....user import User
 
 from ..repository import (
     AllRepos, HasIdOf, RegExpIdOf, HasNoteRegexp, HasReferenceCountOf,
diff --git a/gramps/gen/lib/test/schema_test.py b/gramps/gen/lib/test/schema_test.py
index 0d2e55293..fb73eb0c7 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/lib/test/schema_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/lib/test/schema_test.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from .. import (Person, Family, Event, Place, Repository, Source, Citation,
 from ..serialize import to_json
 from ...db.utils import import_as_dict
 from ...const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from ...user import User
 
 TEST_DIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(DATA_DIR, "tests"))
 EXAMPLE = os.path.join(TEST_DIR, "example.gramps")
diff --git a/gramps/gen/lib/test/serialize_test.py b/gramps/gen/lib/test/serialize_test.py
index 1e8df55b5..37754fc47 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/lib/test/serialize_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/lib/test/serialize_test.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ from .. import (Person, Family, Event, Source, Place, Citation,
 from ..serialize import to_json, from_json
 from ...db.utils import import_as_dict
 from ...const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from ...user import User
 
 TEST_DIR = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(DATA_DIR, "tests"))
 EXAMPLE = os.path.join(TEST_DIR, "example.gramps")
diff --git a/gramps/gen/merge/test/merge_ref_test.py b/gramps/gen/merge/test/merge_ref_test.py
index 862808dec..265c91a1a 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/merge/test/merge_ref_test.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/merge/test/merge_ref_test.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import lxml.etree as ET
 
 from gramps.plugins.lib.libgrampsxml import GRAMPS_XML_VERSION
 from gramps.test.test_util import Gramps
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from gramps.gen.user import User
 from gramps.gen.const import DATA_DIR, USER_PLUGINS, TEMP_DIR
 from gramps.version import VERSION
 from gramps.gen.lib import Name, Surname
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ class BaseMergeCheck(unittest.TestCase):
     def do_case(self, phoenix_id, titanic_id, input_doc, expect_doc,
                 test_error_str=''):
         """Do the merge and "assert" the result."""
-        gramps = Gramps(user=User(auto_accept=True, quiet=True))
+        gramps = Gramps(user=User())
         result_str, err_str = gramps.run(
             '-d', '.ImportXML', '--config=preferences.eprefix:DEFAULT',
             '-i', '-', '-f', 'gramps', '-a', 'tool', '-p',
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class BaseMergeCheck(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def do_family_case(self, phoenix_id, titanic_id, father_h, mother_h,
                        input_doc, expect_doc, test_error_str=''):
-        gramps = Gramps(user=User(auto_accept=True, quiet=True))
+        gramps = Gramps(user=User())
         result_str, err_str = gramps.run(
             '-d', '.ImportXML', '--config=preferences.eprefix:DEFAULT',
             '-i', '-', '-f', 'gramps', '-a', 'tool', '-p',
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ class BaseMergeCheck(unittest.TestCase):
 
     def raw_contains(self, phoenix_id, titanic_id, input_doc, expect_str,
                      test_error_str=''):
-        gramps = Gramps(user=User(auto_accept=True, quiet=True))
+        gramps = Gramps(user=User())
         result_str, err_str = gramps.run(
             '-d', '.ImportXML', '--config=preferences.eprefix:DEFAULT',
             '-i', '-', '-f', 'gramps', '-a', 'tool', '-p',
diff --git a/gramps/gen/user.py b/gramps/gen/user.py
index 6d9a9116c..d19702db5 100644
--- a/gramps/gen/user.py
+++ b/gramps/gen/user.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import sys
 from abc import ABCMeta, abstractmethod
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 
-class User(metaclass=ABCMeta):
+class UserBase(metaclass=ABCMeta):
     """
     This class provides a means to interact with the user in an abstract way.
     This class should be overridden by each respective user interface to
@@ -187,3 +187,40 @@ class User(metaclass=ABCMeta):
         """
         Displays information to the user
         """
+
+class User(UserBase):
+    """
+    An implementation of the :class:`.gen.user.UserBase` class which supresses
+    output and accepts prompts.  This is useful for unit tests.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, callback=None, error=None, uistate=None, dbstate=None):
+        UserBase.__init__(self, callback=lambda x: x)
+
+    def begin_progress(self, title, message, steps):
+        pass
+
+    def step_progress(self):
+        pass
+
+    def end_progress(self):
+        pass
+
+    def prompt(self, title, message, accept_label, reject_label, parent=None,
+               default_label=None):
+        return True
+
+    def warn(self, title, warning=""):
+        pass
+
+    def notify_error(self, title, error=""):
+        pass
+
+    def notify_db_error(self, error):
+        pass
+
+    def notify_db_repair(self, error):
+        pass
+
+    def info(self, msg1, infotext, parent=None, monospaced=False):
+        pass
diff --git a/gramps/gui/user.py b/gramps/gui/user.py
index d33c9bc89..0d81504ab 100644
--- a/gramps/gui/user.py
+++ b/gramps/gui/user.py
@@ -44,14 +44,14 @@ from .dialog import (WarningDialog, ErrorDialog, DBErrorDialog,
 # User class
 #
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-class User(user.User):
+class User(user.UserBase):
     """
     This class provides a means to interact with the user via GTK.
-    It implements the interface in :class:`.gen.user.User`
+    It implements the interface in :class:`.gen.user.UserBase`
     """
     def __init__(self, callback=None, error=None, parent=None,
                  uistate=None, dbstate=None): # TODO User API: gen==cli==gui
-        user.User.__init__(self, callback, error, uistate, dbstate)
+        user.UserBase.__init__(self, callback, error, uistate, dbstate)
         self._progress = None
 
         if parent:
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/test/test_exports.py b/gramps/plugins/test/test_exports.py
index de0d0db70..3501d2951 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/test/test_exports.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/test/test_exports.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import difflib
 from gramps.test.test_util import Gramps
 from gramps.gen.const import TEMP_DIR, DATA_DIR
 from gramps.gen.datehandler import set_format
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from gramps.gen.user import User
 from gramps.gen.utils.config import config
 
 TREE_NAME = "Test_exporttest"
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/test/test_imports.py b/gramps/plugins/test/test_imports.py
index 52094de72..60e99562a 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/test/test_imports.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/test/test_imports.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ from gramps.gen.db.utils import import_as_dict
 from gramps.gen.merge.diff import diff_dbs, to_struct
 from gramps.gen.simple import SimpleAccess
 from gramps.gen.utils.id import set_det_id
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from gramps.gen.user import User
 from gramps.gen.const import TEMP_DIR, DATA_DIR
 from gramps.test.test_util import capture
 from gramps.plugins.export.exportxml import XmlWriter
diff --git a/gramps/plugins/test/test_tools.py b/gramps/plugins/test/test_tools.py
index a543663af..376e917a3 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/test/test_tools.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/test/test_tools.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import random
 
 from gramps.test.test_util import Gramps
 from gramps.gen.const import DATA_DIR
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from gramps.gen.user import User
 from gramps.gen.utils.id import set_det_id
 from gramps.gen import const
 from gramps.gen.utils.config import config
diff --git a/gramps/test/test_util.py b/gramps/test/test_util.py
index 0117f7302..1134726a5 100644
--- a/gramps/test/test_util.py
+++ b/gramps/test/test_util.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import contextlib
 from io import TextIOWrapper, BytesIO, StringIO
 
 from gramps.gen.dbstate import DbState
-from gramps.cli.user import User
+from gramps.gen.user import User
 from gramps.cli.grampscli import CLIManager
 from gramps.cli.argparser import ArgParser
 from gramps.cli.arghandler import ArgHandler
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ class Gramps:
         from gramps.cli.clidbman import CLIDbManager
         self.dbstate = dbstate or DbState()
         #we need a manager for the CLI session
-        self.user = user or User(auto_accept=True, quiet=False)
+        self.user = user or User()
         self.climanager = CLIManager(self.dbstate, setloader=True, user=self.user)
         self.clidbmanager = CLIDbManager(self.dbstate)