diff --git a/spec/01-unit/28-request-aware-table_spec.lua b/spec/01-unit/28-request-aware-table_spec.lua
index 08ebc183c45..b82456b65a1 100644
--- a/spec/01-unit/28-request-aware-table_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/01-unit/28-request-aware-table_spec.lua
@@ -1,39 +1,7 @@
-local utils = require "kong.tools.utils"
 local tablex = require "pl.tablex"
 
 local rat
 
-local function assert_rw_allowed(tab, orig_t)
-  for k, v in pairs(orig_t or {}) do
-    -- reads from orig_t succeed
-    local val = assert.has_no.errors(function() return tab[k] end)
-    assert.equal(v, val)
-  end
-
-  local k = utils.random_string()
-  local v = utils.random_string()
-  -- writing new values succeeds
-  assert.has_no.errors(function() tab[k] = v end)
-  -- reading new values succeeds
-  local val = assert.has_no.errors(function() return tab[k] end)
-  assert.equal(v, val)
-end
-
-local function assert_rw_denied(tab, orig_t)
-  local err_str = "race condition detected"
-  for k, v in pairs(orig_t or {}) do
-    -- reads from orig_t error out
-    assert.error_matches(function() return nil, tab[k] == v end, err_str)
-  end
-
-  local k = utils.random_string()
-  local v = utils.random_string()
-  -- writing new values errors out
-  assert.error_matches(function() tab[k] = v end, err_str)
-  -- reading new values errors out
-  assert.error_matches(function() return tab[k] == v end, err_str)
-end
-
 describe("Request aware table", function()
   local old_ngx
   local tab
@@ -52,51 +20,16 @@ describe("Request aware table", function()
   end)
 
   describe("with concurrency check enabled", function()
-    local orig_t
+    local orig_t = {}
 
     before_each(function()
-      orig_t = {
-        k1 = utils.random_string(),
-        k2 = utils.random_string(),
-      }
       tab = rat.new(orig_t, "on")
     end)
 
-    it("allows access when there are no race conditions", function()
-      -- create a new RAT with request_id = 1 (clear after use)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "1"
-      assert_rw_allowed(tab, orig_t)
-      tab.clear()
-
-      -- reuse RAT with different request_id (allowed)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "2"
-      assert_rw_allowed(tab)
-    end)
-
-    it("denies access when there are race conditions", function()
-      -- create a new RAT with request_id = 1 (no clear)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "1"
-      assert_rw_allowed(tab, orig_t)
-
-      -- reuse RAT with different request_id (not allowed)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "2"
-      assert_rw_denied(tab)
-    end)
-
-    it("clears the table successfully", function()
-      -- create a new RAT with request_id = 1 (clear after use)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "1"
-      assert_rw_allowed(tab, orig_t)
-      tab.clear()
-
-      assert.same(0, tablex.size(orig_t))
-    end)
-
     it("allows defining a custom clear function", function()
-      -- create a new RAT with request_id = 1 (clear after use)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "1"
       orig_t.persist = "persistent_value"
-      assert_rw_allowed(tab, orig_t)
+      orig_t.foo = "bar"
+      orig_t.baz = "qux"
 
       -- custom clear function that keeps persistent_value
       tab.clear(function(t)
@@ -116,41 +49,4 @@ describe("Request aware table", function()
       assert.same(0, tablex.size(orig_t))
     end)
   end)
-
-  describe("with concurrency check disabled", function()
-    local orig_t
-
-    before_each(function()
-      orig_t = {
-        k1 = utils.random_string(),
-        k2 = utils.random_string(),
-      }
-      tab = rat.new(orig_t, "off")
-    end)
-
-    before_each(function()
-      tab.clear()
-    end)
-
-    it("allows access when there are no race conditions", function()
-      -- create a new RAT with request_id = 1 (clear after use)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "1"
-      assert_rw_allowed(tab, orig_t)
-      tab.clear()
-
-      -- reuse RAT with different request_id (allowed)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "2"
-      assert_rw_allowed(tab, orig_t)
-    end)
-
-    it("allows access when there are race conditions", function()
-      -- create a new RAT with request_id = 1, (no clear)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "1"
-      assert_rw_allowed(tab, orig_t)
-
-      -- reuse RAT with different request_id (allowed with check disabled)
-      _G.ngx.var.request_id = "2"
-      assert_rw_allowed(tab, orig_t)
-    end)
-  end)
 end)
diff --git a/spec/02-integration/05-proxy/31-request-aware-table_spec.lua b/spec/02-integration/05-proxy/31-request-aware-table_spec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ca34bf9eedf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/02-integration/05-proxy/31-request-aware-table_spec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,121 @@
+local helpers = require "spec.helpers"
+
+
+local function clear_table(client, checks)
+  local res = client:get("/", {
+    query = {
+      checks = checks,
+      clear = true,
+    }
+  })
+  assert.response(res).has.status(200)
+  assert.logfile().has.no.line("[error]", true)
+end
+
+for _, checks in ipairs({ true, false }) do
+for _, strategy in helpers.each_strategy() do
+  describe("request aware table tests [#" .. strategy .. "] .. checks=" .. tostring(checks), function()
+    local client
+    lazy_setup(function()
+      local bp = helpers.get_db_utils(strategy, {
+        "plugins",
+        "routes",
+        "services",
+      }, {
+        "request-aware-table"
+      })
+
+      local service = assert(bp.services:insert({
+        url = helpers.mock_upstream_url
+      }))
+
+      local route = bp.routes:insert({
+        service = service,
+        paths = { "/" }
+      })
+
+      bp.plugins:insert({
+        name = "request-aware-table",
+        route = { id = route.id },
+      })
+
+      helpers.start_kong({
+        database = strategy,
+        plugins = "bundled, request-aware-table",
+        nginx_conf = "spec/fixtures/custom_nginx.template",
+      })
+    end)
+
+    lazy_teardown(function()
+      helpers.stop_kong()
+    end)
+
+    before_each(function()
+      helpers.clean_logfile()
+      client = helpers.proxy_client()
+      clear_table(client, checks)
+    end)
+
+    after_each(function()
+      if client then
+        client:close()
+      end
+    end)
+
+    describe("with concurrency check enabled", function()
+      it("allows access when there are no race conditions", function()
+        local res = client:get("/", {
+          query = {
+            checks = checks,
+          }
+        })
+        assert.response(res).has.status(200)
+        assert.logfile().has.no.line("[error]", true)
+      end)
+      it("denies access when there are race conditions and checks are enabled", function()
+        -- access from request 1 (don't clear)
+        local ok, r = pcall(client.get, client, "/", {
+          query = {
+            checks = checks,
+          },
+        })
+        assert(ok)
+        assert.response(r).has.status(200)
+
+        -- access from request 2
+        ok, r = pcall(client.get, client, "/", {
+          query = {
+            checks = checks,
+          },
+        })
+        if checks then
+          assert(not ok)
+          assert.logfile().has.line("race condition detected", true)
+        else
+          assert(ok)
+          assert.response(r).has.status(200)
+        end
+      end)
+      it("allows access when table is cleared between requests", function()
+        -- access from request 1 (clear)
+        local r = client:get("/", {
+          query = {
+            checks = checks,
+            clear = true,
+          },
+        })
+        assert.response(r).has.status(200)
+
+        -- access from request 2
+        r = client:get("/", {
+          query = {
+            checks = checks,
+          },
+        })
+        assert.response(r).has.status(200)
+        assert.logfile().has.no.line("[error]", true)
+      end)
+    end)
+  end)
+end
+end
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/handler.lua b/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/handler.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c51c6aa29b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/handler.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+local RAT = require "kong.tools.request_aware_table"
+
+local get_phase = ngx.get_phase
+local ngx = ngx
+local kong = kong
+
+
+local _M = {
+  PRIORITY = 1001,
+  VERSION = "1.0",
+}
+
+local checks_tab = RAT.new({}, "on")
+local no_checks_tab = RAT.new({}, "off")
+
+local function access_tables()
+  local query = kong.request.get_query()
+  local tab
+
+  if query.checks ~= "false" then
+    tab = checks_tab
+  else
+    tab = no_checks_tab
+  end
+
+  if query.clear == "true" and get_phase() == "access" then
+    tab.clear()
+  end
+
+  -- write access
+  tab.foo = "bar"
+  -- read access
+  ngx.log(ngx.DEBUG, "accessing to tab.foo" .. tab.foo)
+
+  if query.clear == "true" and get_phase() == "body_filter" then
+    tab.clear()
+  end
+end
+
+function _M:access(conf)
+  access_tables()
+end
+
+function _M:header_filter(conf)
+  access_tables()
+end
+
+function _M:body_filter(conf)
+  access_tables()
+end
+
+return _M
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/schema.lua b/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/schema.lua
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2881307755a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/schema.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+return {
+  name = "request-aware-table",
+  fields = {
+    {
+      config = {
+        type = "record",
+        fields = { }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}