diff --git a/tardis/conftest.py b/tardis/conftest.py
index e5af08a5cdf..cba3edfd830 100644
--- a/tardis/conftest.py
+++ b/tardis/conftest.py
@@ -165,17 +165,6 @@ def tardis_snapshot_path(request):
             os.path.expandvars(os.path.expanduser(tardis_snapshot_path))
         )
 
-
-@pytest.yield_fixture(scope="session")
-def tardis_ref_data(tardis_ref_path, generate_reference):
-    if generate_reference:
-        mode = "w"
-    else:
-        mode = "r"
-    with pd.HDFStore(tardis_ref_path / "unit_test_data.h5", mode=mode) as store:
-        yield store
-
-
 @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
 def tardis_config_verysimple():
     return yaml_load_file(
diff --git a/tardis/gui/tests/test_gui.py b/tardis/gui/tests/test_gui.py
index 2cc05187376..99a685bebcc 100644
--- a/tardis/gui/tests/test_gui.py
+++ b/tardis/gui/tests/test_gui.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ def config():
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="module")
 def simulation_one_loop(
-    atomic_data_fname, config, tardis_ref_data, generate_reference
+    atomic_data_fname, config
 ):
     config.atom_data = atomic_data_fname
     config.montecarlo.iterations = 2