diff --git a/tests/test_tractor.py b/tests/test_tractor.py
index 7200dfb0..3027fc9f 100644
--- a/tests/test_tractor.py
+++ b/tests/test_tractor.py
@@ -1,12 +1,8 @@
 """
 Actor model API testing
 """
-import time
-from functools import partial
-
 import pytest
-import trio
-from piker import tractor
+import tractor
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
@@ -14,78 +10,6 @@ def us_symbols():
     return ['TSLA', 'AAPL', 'CGC', 'CRON']
 
 
-@pytest.mark.trio
-async def test_no_arbitter():
-    """An arbitter must be established before any nurseries
-    can be created.
-
-    (In other words ``tractor.run`` must be used instead of ``trio.run`` as is
-    done by the ``pytest-trio`` plugin.)
-    """
-    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
-        with tractor.open_nursery():
-            pass
-
-
-def test_local_actor_async_func():
-    """Verify a simple async function in-process.
-    """
-    nums = []
-
-    async def print_loop():
-        # arbiter is started in-proc if dne
-        assert tractor.current_actor().is_arbiter
-
-        for i in range(10):
-            nums.append(i)
-            await trio.sleep(0.1)
-
-    start = time.time()
-    tractor.run(print_loop)
-
-    # ensure the sleeps were actually awaited
-    assert time.time() - start >= 1
-    assert nums == list(range(10))
-
-
-# NOTE: this func must be defined at module level in order for the
-# interal pickling infra of the forkserver to work
-async def spawn(is_arbiter):
-    statespace = {'doggy': 10, 'kitty': 4}
-    namespaces = ['piker.brokers.core']
-
-    await trio.sleep(0.1)
-    actor = tractor.current_actor()
-    assert actor.is_arbiter == is_arbiter
-
-    # arbiter should always have an empty statespace as it's redundant
-    assert actor.statespace == statespace
-
-    if actor.is_arbiter:
-        async with tractor.open_nursery() as nursery:
-            # forks here
-            portal = await nursery.start_actor(
-                'sub-actor',
-                main=partial(spawn, False),
-                statespace=statespace,
-                rpc_module_paths=namespaces,
-            )
-            assert len(nursery._children) == 1
-            assert portal.channel.uid in tractor.current_actor()._peers
-    else:
-        return 10
-
-
-def test_local_arbiter_subactor_global_state():
-    statespace = {'doggy': 10, 'kitty': 4}
-    tractor.run(
-        spawn,
-        True,
-        name='arbiter',
-        statespace=statespace,
-    )
-
-
 async def rx_price_quotes_from_brokerd(us_symbols):
     """Verify we can spawn a daemon actor and retrieve streamed price data.
     """