diff --git a/src/pkg/cluster/state_test.go b/src/pkg/cluster/state_test.go
index 73a3155888..fd3497cc7f 100644
--- a/src/pkg/cluster/state_test.go
+++ b/src/pkg/cluster/state_test.go
@@ -6,9 +6,7 @@ package cluster
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"log"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -25,14 +23,6 @@ import (
 )
 
 func TestInitZarfState(t *testing.T) {
-	state := types.ZarfState{}
-
-	// Serialize the struct to JSON
-	validEmptyState, err := json.Marshal(state)
-	if err != nil {
-		log.Fatalf("Error serializing struct: %v", err)
-	}
-
 	tests := []struct {
 		name        string
 		initOpts    types.ZarfInitOptions
@@ -117,9 +107,6 @@ func TestInitZarfState(t *testing.T) {
 						Namespace: ZarfNamespaceName,
 						Name:      ZarfStateSecretName,
 					},
-					Data: map[string][]byte{
-						ZarfStateDataKey: validEmptyState,
-					},
 				},
 			},
 		},