diff --git a/_pytest/config.py b/_pytest/config.py
index d75cb6600..0604da13b 100644
--- a/_pytest/config.py
+++ b/_pytest/config.py
@@ -60,17 +60,17 @@ builtin_plugins.add("pytester")
 
 def _preloadplugins():
     assert not _preinit
-    _preinit.append(get_plugin_manager())
+    _preinit.append(get_config())
 
-def get_plugin_manager():
+def get_config():
     if _preinit:
         return _preinit.pop(0)
     # subsequent calls to main will create a fresh instance
     pluginmanager = PytestPluginManager()
-    pluginmanager.config = Config(pluginmanager) # XXX attr needed?
+    config = Config(pluginmanager)
     for spec in default_plugins:
         pluginmanager.import_plugin(spec)
-    return pluginmanager
+    return config
 
 def _prepareconfig(args=None, plugins=None):
     if args is None:
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def _prepareconfig(args=None, plugins=None):
         if not isinstance(args, str):
             raise ValueError("not a string or argument list: %r" % (args,))
         args = shlex.split(args)
-    pluginmanager = get_plugin_manager()
+    pluginmanager = get_config().pluginmanager
     if plugins:
         for plugin in plugins:
             pluginmanager.register(plugin)
@@ -738,7 +738,7 @@ class Config(object):
         return self.pluginmanager.getplugin("terminalreporter")._tw
 
     def pytest_cmdline_parse(self, pluginmanager, args):
-        assert self == pluginmanager.config, (self, pluginmanager.config)
+        # REF1 assert self == pluginmanager.config, (self, pluginmanager.config)
         self.parse(args)
         return self
 
@@ -768,8 +768,7 @@ class Config(object):
     @classmethod
     def fromdictargs(cls, option_dict, args):
         """ constructor useable for subprocesses. """
-        pluginmanager = get_plugin_manager()
-        config = pluginmanager.config
+        config = get_config()
         config._preparse(args, addopts=False)
         config.option.__dict__.update(option_dict)
         for x in config.option.plugins:
diff --git a/testing/test_config.py b/testing/test_config.py
index 4e416b412..afa0617fa 100644
--- a/testing/test_config.py
+++ b/testing/test_config.py
@@ -348,8 +348,8 @@ def test_notify_exception(testdir, capfd):
 
 
 def test_load_initial_conftest_last_ordering(testdir):
-    from _pytest.config  import get_plugin_manager
-    pm = get_plugin_manager()
+    from _pytest.config  import get_config
+    pm = get_config().pluginmanager
     class My:
         def pytest_load_initial_conftests(self):
             pass
diff --git a/testing/test_core.py b/testing/test_core.py
index eda1fd39c..06394e221 100644
--- a/testing/test_core.py
+++ b/testing/test_core.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import pytest, py, os
 from _pytest.core import * # noqa
-from _pytest.config import get_plugin_manager
+from _pytest.config import get_config
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ class TestPluginManager:
             pytestpm.check_pending()
 
     def test_register_mismatch_arg(self):
-        pm = get_plugin_manager()
+        pm = get_config().pluginmanager
         class hello:
             def pytest_configure(self, asd):
                 pass
         pytest.raises(Exception, lambda: pm.register(hello()))
 
     def test_register(self):
-        pm = get_plugin_manager()
+        pm = get_config().pluginmanager
         class MyPlugin:
             pass
         my = MyPlugin()
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ class TestPytestPluginInteractions:
             def pytest_myhook(xyz):
                 return xyz + 1
         """)
-        config = get_plugin_manager().config
+        config = get_config()
         pm = config.pluginmanager
         pm.hook.pytest_addhooks.call_historic(
                                 kwargs=dict(pluginmanager=config.pluginmanager))
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ class TestPytestPluginInteractions:
         assert len(l) == 2
 
     def test_hook_tracing(self):
-        pytestpm = get_plugin_manager()  # fully initialized with plugins
+        pytestpm = get_config().pluginmanager  # fully initialized with plugins
         saveindent = []
         class api1:
             def pytest_plugin_registered(self):
@@ -927,7 +927,7 @@ class TestPytestPluginManager:
         assert pytestpm.getplugin("pytest_p2").__name__ == "pytest_p2"
 
     def test_consider_module_import_module(self, testdir):
-        pytestpm = get_plugin_manager()
+        pytestpm = get_config().pluginmanager
         mod = py.std.types.ModuleType("x")
         mod.pytest_plugins = "pytest_a"
         aplugin = testdir.makepyfile(pytest_a="#")