diff --git a/magnum/tests/functional/api/v1/test_cluster.py b/magnum/tests/functional/api/v1/test_cluster.py
index 9c94362..2a356a0 100644
--- a/magnum/tests/functional/api/v1/test_cluster.py
+++ b/magnum/tests/functional/api/v1/test_cluster.py
@@ -162,7 +162,23 @@ class ClusterTest(base.BaseTempestTest):
         self.assertIn('-----END CERTIFICATE-----', cert_model.pem)
 
         # test ca sign
-        cert_data_model = datagen.cert_data(cluster_model.uuid)
+
+        csr_sample = """-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----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+-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST-----
+"""
+
+        cert_data_model = datagen.cert_data(cluster_model.uuid,
+                                            csr_data=csr_sample)
         resp, cert_model = self.cert_client.post_cert(cert_data_model)
         self.LOG.debug("cert resp: %s" % resp)
         self.assertEqual(201, resp.status)
diff --git a/magnum/tests/functional/common/datagen.py b/magnum/tests/functional/common/datagen.py
index 14a03c8..4b15301 100644
--- a/magnum/tests/functional/common/datagen.py
+++ b/magnum/tests/functional/common/datagen.py
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
-import os
 import random
 import socket
 import string
@@ -323,18 +322,11 @@ def bay_node_count_patch_data(node_count=2):
     return baypatch_model.BayPatchCollection.from_dict(data)
 
 
-def cert_data(bay_uuid, csr_data=None):
-    if csr_data is None:
-        csr_data = config.Config.csr_location
+def cert_data(bay_uuid, csr_data):
     data = {
-        "bay_uuid": bay_uuid
+        "bay_uuid": bay_uuid,
+        "csr": csr_data,
     }
-    if csr_data is not None and os.path.isfile(csr_data):
-        with open(csr_data, 'r') as f:
-            data['csr'] = f.read()
-    else:
-        data['csr'] = csr_data
-
     model = cert_model.CertEntity.from_dict(data)
 
     return model
diff --git a/magnum/tests/functional/tempest_tests/config.py b/magnum/tests/functional/tempest_tests/config.py
index 61f89c1..3601fd5 100644
--- a/magnum/tests/functional/tempest_tests/config.py
+++ b/magnum/tests/functional/tempest_tests/config.py
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ MagnumGroup = [
 
     cfg.StrOpt("csr_location",
                default="/opt/stack/new/magnum/default.csr",
-               help="CSR location for certificates."),
+               deprecated_for_removal=True,
+               help="CSR location for certificates. This option is no "
+               "longer used for anything."),
 
     cfg.StrOpt("dns_nameserver",
                default="8.8.8.8",