diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record.rb
index b98733e2b8..ede374b892 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record.rb
@@ -169,6 +169,9 @@ module ActiveRecord
   autoload :TestDatabases, "active_record/test_databases"
   autoload :TestFixtures, "active_record/fixtures"
 
+  singleton_class.attr_accessor :legacy_connection_handling
+  self.legacy_connection_handling = true
+
   def self.eager_load!
     super
     ActiveRecord::Locking.eager_load!
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_handler.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_handler.rb
index 5cd7af0f08..5811406956 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_handler.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract/connection_handler.rb
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       # See +READ_QUERY+ for the queries that are blocked by this
       # method.
       def while_preventing_writes(enabled = true)
-        unless ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+        unless ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
           raise NotImplementedError, "`while_preventing_writes` is only available on the connection_handler with legacy_connection_handling"
         end
 
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
           payload[:config] = db_config.configuration_hash
         end
 
-        if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+        if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
           owner_to_pool_manager[pool_config.connection_specification_name] ||= LegacyPoolManager.new
         else
           owner_to_pool_manager[pool_config.connection_specification_name] ||= PoolManager.new
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract_adapter.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract_adapter.rb
index 0cdcc0d049..ed558aac25 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract_adapter.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_adapters/abstract_adapter.rb
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       # will return true based on +current_preventing_writes+.
       def preventing_writes?
         return true if replica?
-        return ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handler.prevent_writes if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+        return ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handler.prevent_writes if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         return false if connection_klass.nil?
 
         connection_klass.current_preventing_writes
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb
index e0688248c1..1fa19ca6fb 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/connection_handling.rb
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
     #     Dog.first # finds first Dog record stored on the shard one replica
     #   end
     def connected_to(role: nil, shard: nil, prevent_writes: false, &blk)
-      if legacy_connection_handling
+      if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         if self != Base
           raise NotImplementedError, "`connected_to` can only be called on ActiveRecord::Base with legacy connection handling."
         end
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
     def connected_to_many(*classes, role:, shard: nil, prevent_writes: false)
       classes = classes.flatten
 
-      if legacy_connection_handling
+      if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         raise NotImplementedError, "connected_to_many is not available with legacy connection handling"
       end
 
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
     # It is not recommended to use this method in a request since it
     # does not yield to a block like +connected_to+.
     def connecting_to(role: default_role, shard: default_shard, prevent_writes: false)
-      if legacy_connection_handling
+      if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         raise NotImplementedError, "`connecting_to` is not available with `legacy_connection_handling`."
       end
 
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
     # See +READ_QUERY+ for the queries that are blocked by this
     # method.
     def while_preventing_writes(enabled = true, &block)
-      if legacy_connection_handling
+      if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         connection_handler.while_preventing_writes(enabled, &block)
       else
         connected_to(role: current_role, prevent_writes: enabled, &block)
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
     end
 
     def lookup_connection_handler(handler_key) # :nodoc:
-      if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+      if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         handler_key ||= ActiveRecord::Base.writing_role
         connection_handlers[handler_key] ||= ActiveRecord::ConnectionAdapters::ConnectionHandler.new
       else
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
 
     # Clears the query cache for all connections associated with the current thread.
     def clear_query_caches_for_current_thread
-      if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+      if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers.each_value do |handler|
           clear_on_handler(handler)
         end
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       def with_role_and_shard(role, shard, prevent_writes)
         prevent_writes = true if role == reading_role
 
-        if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+        if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
           with_handler(role.to_sym) do
             connection_handler.while_preventing_writes(prevent_writes) do
               self.connected_to_stack << { shard: shard, klasses: [self] }
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/core.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/core.rb
index d083f5ee39..ac78d5b588 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/core.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/core.rb
@@ -164,8 +164,6 @@ module ActiveRecord
 
       class_attribute :default_shard, instance_writer: false
 
-      mattr_accessor :legacy_connection_handling, instance_writer: false, default: true
-
       mattr_accessor :application_record_class, instance_accessor: false, default: nil
 
       # Sets the async_query_executor for an application. By default the thread pool executor
@@ -225,7 +223,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       end
 
       def self.connection_handlers
-        if legacy_connection_handling
+        if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         else
           raise NotImplementedError, "The new connection handling does not support accessing multiple connection handlers."
         end
@@ -234,7 +232,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       end
 
       def self.connection_handlers=(handlers)
-        if legacy_connection_handling
+        if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
           ActiveSupport::Deprecation.warn(<<~MSG)
             Using legacy connection handling is deprecated. Please set
             `legacy_connection_handling` to `false` in your application.
@@ -270,7 +268,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       #     ActiveRecord::Base.current_role #=> :reading
       #   end
       def self.current_role
-        if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+        if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
           connection_handlers.key(connection_handler) || default_role
         else
           connected_to_stack.reverse_each do |hash|
@@ -311,7 +309,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       #     ActiveRecord::Base.current_preventing_writes #=> false
       #   end
       def self.current_preventing_writes
-        if legacy_connection_handling
+        if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
           connection_handler.prevent_writes
         else
           connected_to_stack.reverse_each do |hash|
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/query_cache.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/query_cache.rb
index b4e24debe4..6450246ff3 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/query_cache.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/query_cache.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
     def self.run
       pools = []
 
-      if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+      if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers.each do |key, handler|
           pools.concat(handler.connection_pool_list.reject { |p| p.query_cache_enabled }.each { |p| p.enable_query_cache! })
         end
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
     def self.complete(pools)
       pools.each { |pool| pool.disable_query_cache! }
 
-      if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+      if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
         ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers.each do |_, handler|
           handler.connection_pool_list.each do |pool|
             pool.release_connection if pool.active_connection? && !pool.connection.transaction_open?
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/railtie.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/railtie.rb
index 364a9b74ca..6f6da13674 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/railtie.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/railtie.rb
@@ -200,11 +200,22 @@ To keep using the current cache store, you can turn off cache versioning entirel
     end
 
     initializer "active_record.set_configs" do |app|
-      ActiveSupport.on_load(:active_record) do
-        configs = app.config.active_record
+      configs = app.config.active_record
 
+      configs.each do |k, v|
+        next if k == :encryption
+        setter = "#{k}="
+        if ActiveRecord.respond_to?(setter)
+          ActiveRecord.send(setter, v)
+        end
+      end
+
+      ActiveSupport.on_load(:active_record) do
         configs.each do |k, v|
-          send "#{k}=", v if k != :encryption
+          next if k == :encryption
+          setter = "#{k}="
+          next if ActiveRecord.respond_to?(setter)
+          send(setter, v)
         end
       end
     end
@@ -213,7 +224,7 @@ To keep using the current cache store, you can turn off cache versioning entirel
     # and then establishes the connection.
     initializer "active_record.initialize_database" do
       ActiveSupport.on_load(:active_record) do
-        if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+        if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
           self.connection_handlers = { writing_role => ActiveRecord::Base.default_connection_handler }
         end
         self.configurations = Rails.application.config.database_configuration
diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/test_fixtures.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/test_fixtures.rb
index 58c66df685..066b0adcc0 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/test_fixtures.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/test_fixtures.rb
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       # need to share a connection pool so that the reading connection
       # can see data in the open transaction on the writing connection.
       def setup_shared_connection_pool
-        if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+        if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
           writing_handler = ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers[ActiveRecord::Base.writing_role]
 
           ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers.values.each do |handler|
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       end
 
       def teardown_shared_connection_pool
-        if ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
+        if ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
           @legacy_saved_pool_configs.each_pair do |handler, names|
             names.each_pair do |name, shards|
               shards.each_pair do |shard_name, pool_config|
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
index 2def5ff0f4..b5c333e6ee 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
@@ -127,8 +127,8 @@ module ActiveRecord
 
   class AdapterPreventWritesLegacyTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
     def setup
-      @old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+      @old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
       @connection = ActiveRecord::Base.connection
       @connection_handler = ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handler
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
 
     def teardown
       clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
     end
 
     def test_preventing_writes_predicate_legacy
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql2/mysql2_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql2/mysql2_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
index 3ea7fa6e66..abda5a1ba1 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql2/mysql2_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/mysql2/mysql2_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
@@ -105,15 +105,15 @@ class Mysql2AdapterPreventWritesLegacyTest < ActiveRecord::Mysql2TestCase
   include DdlHelper
 
   def setup
-    @old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+    @old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
     @conn = ActiveRecord::Base.connection
     @connection_handler = ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handler
   end
 
   def teardown
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
   end
 
   def test_errors_when_an_insert_query_is_called_while_preventing_writes
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/postgresql_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/postgresql_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
index d34f83be24..b6b9738595 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/postgresql_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/postgresql/postgresql_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
@@ -106,15 +106,15 @@ module ActiveRecord
       include ConnectionHelper
 
       def setup
-        @old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-        ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+        @old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+        ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
         @connection = ActiveRecord::Base.connection
         @connection_handler = ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handler
       end
 
       def teardown
-        ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
+        ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
       end
 
       def test_errors_when_an_insert_query_is_called_while_preventing_writes
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/sqlite3/sqlite3_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/sqlite3/sqlite3_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
index 746bfb7285..fb874688ea 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/sqlite3/sqlite3_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/adapters/sqlite3/sqlite3_adapter_prevent_writes_test.rb
@@ -95,8 +95,8 @@ module ActiveRecord
       self.use_transactional_tests = false
 
       def setup
-        @old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-        ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+        @old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+        ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
         @conn = ActiveRecord::Base.connection
 
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
       end
 
       def teardown
-        ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
+        ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
       end
 
       def test_errors_when_an_insert_query_is_called_while_preventing_writes
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/base_prevent_writes_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/base_prevent_writes_test.rb
index f02fd44747..b08ee49799 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/base_prevent_writes_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/base_prevent_writes_test.rb
@@ -97,15 +97,15 @@ class BasePreventWritesTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
 
   class BasePreventWritesLegacyTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
     def setup
-      @old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+      @old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
       ActiveRecord::Base.establish_connection :arunit
       ARUnit2Model.establish_connection :arunit2
     end
 
     def teardown
       clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
     end
 
     if !in_memory_db?
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
index 1c6ceeb834..1fa3684e6c 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/base_test.rb
@@ -1682,8 +1682,8 @@ class BasicsTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   end
 
   test "cannot call connected_to on subclasses of ActiveRecord::Base with legacy connection handling" do
-    old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+    old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
     error = assert_raises(NotImplementedError) do
       Bird.connected_to(role: :reading) { }
@@ -1692,7 +1692,7 @@ class BasicsTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
     assert_equal "`connected_to` can only be called on ActiveRecord::Base with legacy connection handling.", error.message
   ensure
     clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
   end
 
   test "cannot call connected_to with role and shard on non-abstract classes" do
@@ -1744,25 +1744,25 @@ class BasicsTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   end
 
   test "#connecting_to doesn't work with legacy connection handling" do
-    old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+    old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
     assert_raises NotImplementedError do
       SecondAbstractClass.connecting_to(role: :writing, prevent_writes: true)
     end
   ensure
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
   end
 
   test "#connected_to_many doesn't work with legacy connection handling" do
-    old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+    old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
     assert_raises NotImplementedError do
       ActiveRecord::Base.connected_to_many([SecondAbstractClass], role: :writing)
     end
   ensure
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
   end
 
   test "#connected_to_many cannot be called on anything but ActiveRecord::Base" do
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/connection_adapters/legacy_connection_handlers_multi_db_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/connection_adapters/legacy_connection_handlers_multi_db_test.rb
index 12dedd090f..1b1889cd7a 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/connection_adapters/legacy_connection_handlers_multi_db_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/connection_adapters/legacy_connection_handlers_multi_db_test.rb
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ module ActiveRecord
       fixtures :people
 
       def setup
-        @old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-        ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+        @old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+        ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
         assert_deprecated do
           ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers = { writing: ActiveRecord::Base.default_connection_handler }
         end
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
 
       def teardown
         clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
-        ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
+        ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = @old_value
       end
 
       class SecondaryBase < ActiveRecord::Base
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/connection_adapters/legacy_connection_handlers_sharding_db_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/connection_adapters/legacy_connection_handlers_sharding_db_test.rb
index 3cd50ac690..f1598fad13 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/connection_adapters/legacy_connection_handlers_sharding_db_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/connection_adapters/legacy_connection_handlers_sharding_db_test.rb
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ module ActiveRecord
       fixtures :people
 
       def setup
-        @legacy_setting = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-        ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+        @legacy_setting = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+        ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
         assert_deprecated do
           ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers = { writing: ActiveRecord::Base.default_connection_handler }
         end
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ module ActiveRecord
 
       def teardown
         clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
-        ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = @legacy_setting
+        ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = @legacy_setting
       end
 
       unless in_memory_db?
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/fixtures_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/fixtures_test.rb
index 0669f38a11..ba4cb88f38 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/fixtures_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/fixtures_test.rb
@@ -1541,8 +1541,8 @@ if current_adapter?(:SQLite3Adapter) && !in_memory_db?
     fixtures :dogs
 
     def setup
-      @old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+      @old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
       @old_handler = ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handler
       @prev_configs, ActiveRecord::Base.configurations = ActiveRecord::Base.configurations, config
@@ -1565,7 +1565,7 @@ if current_adapter?(:SQLite3Adapter) && !in_memory_db?
       ActiveRecord::Base.configurations = @prev_configs
       ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handler = @old_handler
       clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = false
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = false
     end
 
     def test_uses_writing_connection_for_fixtures
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/query_cache_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/query_cache_test.rb
index 31084e55c1..2450a8164b 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/query_cache_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/query_cache_test.rb
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ class QueryCacheTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   end
 
   def test_query_cache_is_applied_to_legacy_connections_in_all_handlers
-    old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+    old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
     assert_deprecated do
       ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers = {
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class QueryCacheTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
     mw.call({})
   ensure
     clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
   end
 
   def test_query_cache_is_applied_to_all_connections
@@ -126,8 +126,8 @@ class QueryCacheTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
 
   if Process.respond_to?(:fork) && !in_memory_db?
     def test_query_cache_with_multiple_handlers_and_forked_processes_legacy_handling
-      old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+      old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
       assert_deprecated do
         ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers = {
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class QueryCacheTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
       rd.close
     ensure
       clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
     end
 
     def test_query_cache_with_forked_processes
@@ -665,8 +665,8 @@ class QueryCacheTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
 
   def test_clear_query_cache_is_called_on_all_legacy_connections
     skip "with in memory db, reading role won't be able to see database on writing role" if in_memory_db?
-    old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+    old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
     assert_deprecated do
       ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handlers = {
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ class QueryCacheTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
   ensure
     unless in_memory_db?
       clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/activerecord/test/cases/test_fixtures_test.rb b/activerecord/test/cases/test_fixtures_test.rb
index 4475cf2a06..61b1296a26 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/cases/test_fixtures_test.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/cases/test_fixtures_test.rb
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ class TestFixturesTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
 
   unless in_memory_db?
     def test_doesnt_rely_on_active_support_test_case_specific_methods_with_legacy_connection_handling
-      old_value = ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = true
+      old_value = ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = true
 
       tmp_dir = Dir.mktmpdir
       File.write(File.join(tmp_dir, "zines.yml"), <<~YML)
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class TestFixturesTest < ActiveRecord::TestCase
       clean_up_legacy_connection_handlers
       ActiveRecord::Base.connection_handler = old_handler
       FileUtils.rm_r(tmp_dir)
-      ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
+      ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = old_value
     end
 
     def test_doesnt_rely_on_active_support_test_case_specific_methods
diff --git a/activerecord/test/support/connection.rb b/activerecord/test/support/connection.rb
index 6879d591ae..dfd2d3abb7 100644
--- a/activerecord/test/support/connection.rb
+++ b/activerecord/test/support/connection.rb
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ module ARTest
   end
 
   def self.connect
-    ActiveRecord::Base.legacy_connection_handling = false
+    ActiveRecord.legacy_connection_handling = false
     ActiveRecord::Base.async_query_executor = :global_thread_pool
     puts "Using #{connection_name}"
     ActiveRecord::Base.logger = ActiveSupport::Logger.new("debug.log", 0, 100 * 1024 * 1024)