diff --git a/apps/emqx_retainer/test/emqx_retainer_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_retainer/test/emqx_retainer_SUITE.erl
index 1a0a00a1c..4f549a385 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_retainer/test/emqx_retainer_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_retainer/test/emqx_retainer_SUITE.erl
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ all() -> emqx_ct:all(?MODULE).
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 init_per_suite(Config) ->
+    application:stop(emqx_retainer),
     emqx_ct_helpers:start_apps([emqx_retainer], fun set_special_configs/1),
     Config.
 
@@ -172,7 +173,6 @@ t_clean(_) ->
     emqtt:publish(C1, <<"retained/0">>, <<"this is a retained message 0">>, [{qos, 0}, {retain, true}]),
     emqtt:publish(C1, <<"retained/1">>, <<"this is a retained message 1">>, [{qos, 0}, {retain, true}]),
     emqtt:publish(C1, <<"retained/test/0">>, <<"this is a retained message 2">>, [{qos, 0}, {retain, true}]),
-
     {ok, #{}, [0]} = emqtt:subscribe(C1, <<"retained/#">>, [{qos, 0}, {rh, 0}]),
     ?assertEqual(3, length(receive_messages(3))),