diff --git a/ci/qemu-cortex-a53.yml b/ci/qemu-cortex-a53.yml
index fcecfc8b..536dcda1 100644
--- a/ci/qemu-cortex-a53.yml
+++ b/ci/qemu-cortex-a53.yml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ header:
 
 local_conf_header:
   nonbuilding_tests: |
-    ZEPHYRTESTS:remove += "common device poll queue sleep"
+    ZEPHYRTESTS:remove = "common device poll queue sleep"
 
 machine: qemu-cortex-a53