diff --git a/nodepool/tests/fixtures/node_max_hold_age_no_default.yaml b/nodepool/tests/fixtures/node_max_hold_age_no_default.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b42ae1612
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nodepool/tests/fixtures/node_max_hold_age_no_default.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+elements-dir: .
+images-dir: '{images_dir}'
+build-log-dir: '{build_log_dir}'
+
+zookeeper-servers:
+  - host: {zookeeper_host}
+    port: {zookeeper_port}
+    chroot: {zookeeper_chroot}
+
+labels:
+  - name: fake-label
+    min-ready: 1
+
+providers:
+  - name: fake-provider
+    cloud: fake
+    driver: fake
+    region-name: fake-region
+    rate: 0.0001
+    diskimages:
+      - name: fake-image
+        meta:
+          key: value
+          key2: value
+    pools:
+      - name: main
+        max-servers: 96
+        availability-zones:
+          - az1
+        networks:
+          - net-name
+        labels:
+          - name: fake-label
+            diskimage: fake-image
+            min-ram: 8192
+            flavor-name: 'Fake'
+
+diskimages:
+  - name: fake-image
+    elements:
+      - fedora
+      - vm
+    release: 21
+    env-vars:
+      TMPDIR: /opt/dib_tmp
+      DIB_IMAGE_CACHE: /opt/dib_cache
+      DIB_CLOUD_IMAGES: http://download.fedoraproject.org/pub/fedora/linux/releases/test/21-Beta/Cloud/Images/x86_64/
+      BASE_IMAGE_FILE: Fedora-Cloud-Base-20141029-21_Beta.x86_64.qcow2
diff --git a/nodepool/tests/test_launcher.py b/nodepool/tests/test_launcher.py
index 199c7afe5..672b94756 100644
--- a/nodepool/tests/test_launcher.py
+++ b/nodepool/tests/test_launcher.py
@@ -735,7 +735,7 @@ class TestLauncher(tests.DBTestCase):
     def test_hold_expiration_no_default(self):
         """Test a held node is deleted when past its operator-specified TTL,
         no max-hold-age set"""
-        configfile = self.setup_config('node_max_ready_age.yaml')
+        configfile = self.setup_config('node_max_hold_age_no_default.yaml')
         pool = self.useNodepool(configfile, watermark_sleep=1)
         self.useBuilder(configfile)
         pool.start()
@@ -748,7 +748,7 @@ class TestLauncher(tests.DBTestCase):
         # hold the node
         node.state = zk.HOLD
         node.comment = 'testing'
-        node.hold_expiration = 5
+        node.hold_expiration = 1
         self.zk.lockNode(node, blocking=False)
         self.zk.storeNode(node)
         self.zk.unlockNode(node)