diff --git a/.github/workflows/test_fast.yml b/.github/workflows/test_fast.yml
index 5fb95def4e8..ad342b3dfa0 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test_fast.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test_fast.yml
@@ -24,8 +24,12 @@ jobs:
         include:
           - os: 'macos-latest'
             python-version: '3.7'
+
     env:
+      # Use non-UTC time zone
+      TZ: XXX-09:35
       PYTEST_ADDOPTS: --cov --cov-append -n 5 --color=yes
+
     steps:
       - name: Checkout
         uses: actions/checkout@v4
diff --git a/pytest.ini b/pytest.ini
index 81df3785cec..9be86cb507c 100644
--- a/pytest.ini
+++ b/pytest.ini
@@ -32,13 +32,10 @@ testpaths =
     cylc/flow/
     tests/unit/
     tests/integration/
-env =
-    # a weird timezone to check that tests aren't assuming the local timezone
-    TZ=XXX-09:35
 doctest_optionflags =
     NORMALIZE_WHITESPACE
     IGNORE_EXCEPTION_DETAIL
     ELLIPSIS
 asyncio_mode = auto
 markers=
-    linkcheck: Test links
\ No newline at end of file
+    linkcheck: Test links
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index 53b2024a9a3..9a3838de1dc 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -121,7 +121,6 @@ tests =
     pytest-asyncio>=0.17,!=0.23.*
     pytest-cov>=2.8.0
     pytest-xdist>=2
-    pytest-env>=0.6.2
     pytest>=6
     testfixtures>=6.11.0
     towncrier>=23