diff --git a/test/helpers/initPayloadE2E.ts b/test/helpers/initPayloadE2E.ts
index daa2a6af01..754a63fc23 100644
--- a/test/helpers/initPayloadE2E.ts
+++ b/test/helpers/initPayloadE2E.ts
@@ -22,18 +22,18 @@ type Result = {
 }
 
 export async function initPayloadE2E({ config, dirname }: Args): Promise<Result> {
+  process.env.NODE_OPTIONS = '--no-deprecation'
   const testSuiteName = dirname.split('/').pop()
   const { beforeTest } = await createTestHooks(testSuiteName)
   await beforeTest()
 
-  process.env.NODE_OPTIONS = '--no-deprecation'
   process.env.PAYLOAD_DROP_DATABASE = 'true'
 
   // @ts-expect-error
   process.env.NODE_ENV = 'test'
 
-  const configWithMemoryDB = await startMemoryDB(config)
-  const payload = await getPayloadHMR({ config: configWithMemoryDB })
+  // const configWithMemoryDB = await startMemoryDB(config)
+  const payload = await getPayloadHMR({ config })
 
   const port = 3000
   process.env.PORT = String(port)