diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/conftest.py b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/conftest.py
index f7f750ad..f5db6eb2 100644
--- a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/conftest.py
@@ -48,6 +48,4 @@ def machine_flake(monkeymodule: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> Generator[Path, None, Non
         )
         # check that an empty config is returned if no json file exists
         monkeymodule.chdir(flake)
-        # monkeypatch get_clan_flake_toplevel to return the flake
-        monkeymodule.setattr("clan_cli.dirs.get_clan_flake_toplevel", lambda: flake)
         yield flake
diff --git a/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/machine_flake/.clan-flake b/pkgs/clan-cli/tests/machine_flake/.clan-flake
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b