diff --git a/spec/helpers.lua b/spec/helpers.lua
index 39b1701f3fc0..03d651b57f3a 100644
--- a/spec/helpers.lua
+++ b/spec/helpers.lua
@@ -1694,7 +1694,7 @@ end
   signal_workers = cmd.signal_workers,
 
   -- returns the plugins and version list that is used by Hybrid mode tests
-  get_plugins_list = DB.clone_plugins_list(),
+  get_plugins_list = DB.clone_plugins_list,
 
   get_available_port = get_available_port,
 
diff --git a/spec/internal/db.lua b/spec/internal/db.lua
index 7c4a2bb41060..9895181fdeb8 100644
--- a/spec/internal/db.lua
+++ b/spec/internal/db.lua
@@ -391,7 +391,6 @@ end
 
 -- returns the plugins and version list that is used by Hybrid mode tests
 local function clone_plugins_list()
-  local PLUGINS_LIST = get_plugins_list()
   assert(PLUGINS_LIST, "plugin list has not been initialized yet, " ..
                        "you must call get_db_utils first")
   return table_clone(PLUGINS_LIST)