diff --git a/compute_endpoint/tests/unit/test_cli_behavior.py b/compute_endpoint/tests/unit/test_cli_behavior.py
index 112d87c00..435973681 100644
--- a/compute_endpoint/tests/unit/test_cli_behavior.py
+++ b/compute_endpoint/tests/unit/test_cli_behavior.py
@@ -583,23 +583,6 @@ def test_multi_user_config_enforces_no_engine(mock_command_ensure, ep_name, run_
     assert "engine\n" in rc.stderr, (rc.stdout, rc.stderr)
 
 
-def test_multi_user_instantiates_no_engine(mock_command_ensure, ep_name, run_line):
-    """different from *enforces* no engine because of historical Config()
-    implementation that default instantiates an Executor, if it's not specified"""
-    ep_dir = mock_command_ensure.endpoint_config_dir / ep_name
-    ep_dir.mkdir(parents=True)
-    data = {"config": ""}
-
-    config = {"multi_user": True}
-    data["config"] = yaml.safe_dump(config)
-
-    to_patch = "globus_compute_endpoint.endpoint.config.config.GlobusComputeEngine"
-    with mock.patch(to_patch) as mock_gce_cls:
-        rc = run_line(f"start {ep_name}", stdin=json.dumps(data), assert_exit_code=1)
-
-    assert not mock_gce_cls.called, (rc.stdout, rc.stderr)
-
-
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("use_uuid", (True, False))
 @mock.patch(f"{_MOCK_BASE}get_config")
 @mock.patch(f"{_MOCK_BASE}Endpoint.get_endpoint_id")