diff --git a/packages/interop/src/fixtures/create-helia.ts b/packages/interop/src/fixtures/create-helia.ts
index 42319aa3..ac9bbdc7 100644
--- a/packages/interop/src/fixtures/create-helia.ts
+++ b/packages/interop/src/fixtures/create-helia.ts
@@ -26,9 +26,6 @@ export async function createHeliaNode (libp2pOptions?: Libp2pOptions): Promise<H
       selectors: {
         ipns: ipnsSelector
       },
-      // skips waiting for the initial self-query to find peers
-      allowQueryWithZeroPeers: true,
-
       protocol: '/ipfs/lan/kad/1.0.0',
       peerInfoMapper: removePublicAddressesMapper,
       clientMode: false