diff --git a/erpnext/setup/doctype/brand/test_records.json b/erpnext/setup/doctype/brand/test_records.json
index 17b5a6b0a3b..eeed9e77334 100644
--- a/erpnext/setup/doctype/brand/test_records.json
+++ b/erpnext/setup/doctype/brand/test_records.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [
  {
-  "brand": "_Test Brand", 
+  "brand": "_Test Brand",
   "doctype": "Brand"
  },
  {
diff --git a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py
index 73c009c7fb8..43d79721963 100644
--- a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py
+++ b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/item.py
@@ -791,6 +791,9 @@ class Item(WebsiteGenerator):
 					d.conversion_factor = value
 
 	def validate_attributes(self):
+		if not self.variant_based_on:
+			self.variant_based_on = 'Item Attribute'
+
 		if (self.has_variants or self.variant_of) and self.variant_based_on == 'Item Attribute':
 			attributes = []
 			if not self.attributes:
@@ -813,7 +816,7 @@ class Item(WebsiteGenerator):
 			variant = get_variant(self.variant_of, args, self.name)
 			if variant:
 				frappe.throw(_("Item variant {0} exists with same attributes")
-									.format(variant), ItemVariantExistsError)
+					.format(variant), ItemVariantExistsError)
 
 			validate_item_variant_attributes(self, args)
 
diff --git a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py
index b297f507b1b..da53d8d6b15 100644
--- a/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py
+++ b/erpnext/stock/doctype/item/test_item.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from erpnext.stock.get_item_details import get_item_details
 from six import iteritems
 
 test_ignore = ["BOM"]
-test_dependencies = ["Warehouse", "Item Group", "Item Tax Template"]
+test_dependencies = ["Warehouse", "Item Group", "Item Tax Template", "Brand"]
 
 def make_item(item_code, properties=None):
 	if frappe.db.exists("Item", item_code):