diff --git a/spec/01-unit/30-dns-client/04-client_ipc_spec.lua b/spec/01-unit/30-dns-client/04-client_ipc_spec.lua
index a31dafda6bfa..f4ff557b37d0 100644
--- a/spec/01-unit/30-dns-client/04-client_ipc_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/01-unit/30-dns-client/04-client_ipc_spec.lua
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ describe("[dns-client] inter-process communication:",function()
       nginx_conf = "spec/fixtures/custom_nginx.template",
       plugins = "bundled,dns-client-test",
       nginx_main_worker_processes = num_workers,
+      legacy_dns_client = "off",
     }))
   end)
 
diff --git a/spec/02-integration/04-admin_api/26-dns_client_spec.lua b/spec/02-integration/04-admin_api/26-dns_client_spec.lua
index 19c2a143713a..a36d62d1e8b2 100644
--- a/spec/02-integration/04-admin_api/26-dns_client_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/02-integration/04-admin_api/26-dns_client_spec.lua
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ for _, strategy in helpers.each_strategy() do
       assert(helpers.start_kong({
         database = strategy,
         nginx_conf = "spec/fixtures/custom_nginx.template",
+        legacy_dns_client = "off",
       }))
 
       client = helpers.admin_client()