diff --git a/tests/unit/expire.tcl b/tests/unit/expire.tcl
index d3c9d63c5..5e85fe858 100644
--- a/tests/unit/expire.tcl
+++ b/tests/unit/expire.tcl
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ start_server {tags {"expire"}} {
             {restore foo6 * {*} ABSTTL}
             {restore foo7 * {*} absttl}
         }
-    }
+    } {} {needs:repl}
 
     # Start another server to test replication of TTLs
     start_server {tags {needs:repl external:skip}} {