diff --git a/hbase-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/User.java b/hbase-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/User.java
index 97d80ba20a7a..f88f65a9f709 100644
--- a/hbase-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/User.java
+++ b/hbase-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/security/User.java
@@ -351,8 +351,7 @@ public <T> T runAs(PrivilegedExceptionAction<T> action)
     public static User createUserForTesting(Configuration conf,
         String name, String[] groups) {
       synchronized (UserProvider.class) {
-        if (!(UserProvider.groups instanceof TestingGroups) ||
-            conf.getBoolean(TestingGroups.TEST_CONF, false)) {
+        if (!(UserProvider.groups instanceof TestingGroups)) {
           UserProvider.groups = new TestingGroups(UserProvider.groups);
         }
       }