diff --git a/playbooks/test-gitea.yaml b/playbooks/test-gitea.yaml
index 86b48a4b35..a3fa8a72f4 100644
--- a/playbooks/test-gitea.yaml
+++ b/playbooks/test-gitea.yaml
@@ -57,10 +57,6 @@
       # user.
       become: true
       become_user: zuul
-    - name: Clone system-config to check that partial clones aren't breaking stuff
-      shell: |
-        cd /tmp
-        GIT_SSL_NO_VERIFY=1 git clone --filter=blob:none https://localhost:3081/opendev/system-config test-system-config-clone
 
 - name: Run rename playbook
   import_playbook: rename_repos.yaml
diff --git a/testinfra/test_gitea.py b/testinfra/test_gitea.py
index 5e83a37878..594905349d 100644
--- a/testinfra/test_gitea.py
+++ b/testinfra/test_gitea.py
@@ -86,6 +86,15 @@ def test_project_clone(host):
     assert "Cloning into '/tmp/disk-image-builder'..." in cmd.stderr
     assert cmd.succeeded
 
+def test_partial_project_clone(host):
+    cmd = host.run(
+        'GIT_SSL_NO_VERIFY=1 '
+        'git clone --filter=blob:none '
+        'https://localhost:3081/opendev/system-config '
+        '/tmp/test-system-config-clone')
+    assert "Cloning into '/tmp/test-system-config-clone'..." in cmd.stderr
+    assert cmd.succeeded
+
 def test_gitea_screenshots(host):
 
         shots = (