diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_cth_cluster.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_cth_cluster.erl
index cbbad0aa2..1a83056cb 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_cth_cluster.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_cth_cluster.erl
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ default_appspec(emqx_conf, Spec, _NodeSpecs) ->
             listeners => allocate_listener_ports([tcp, ssl, ws, wss], Spec)
         }
     };
-default_appspec(emqx, Spec = #{listeners := true}, _NodeSpecs) ->
+default_appspec(emqx, Spec, _NodeSpecs) ->
     #{config => #{listeners => allocate_listener_ports([tcp, ssl, ws, wss], Spec)}};
 default_appspec(_App, _, _) ->
     #{}.
diff --git a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_messages_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_messages_SUITE.erl
index 9d814aad6..81cc3dade 100644
--- a/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_messages_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx/test/emqx_persistent_messages_SUITE.erl
@@ -266,7 +266,6 @@ cluster() ->
     Spec = #{
         role => core,
         join_to => emqx_cth_cluster:node_name(Node1),
-        listeners => true,
         apps => app_specs()
     },
     [
diff --git a/apps/emqx_durable_storage/test/emqx_ds_SUITE.erl b/apps/emqx_durable_storage/test/emqx_ds_SUITE.erl
index 73eb28d85..c79856fc7 100644
--- a/apps/emqx_durable_storage/test/emqx_ds_SUITE.erl
+++ b/apps/emqx_durable_storage/test/emqx_ds_SUITE.erl
@@ -57,7 +57,6 @@ cluster(#{n := N}) ->
     Spec = #{
         role => core,
         join_to => emqx_cth_cluster:node_name(Node1),
-        listeners => true,
         apps => app_specs()
     },
     [