diff --git a/src/Parsoid/References.php b/src/Parsoid/References.php
index f7d172cd7..27e317e3d 100644
--- a/src/Parsoid/References.php
+++ b/src/Parsoid/References.php
@@ -713,8 +713,7 @@ class References extends ExtensionTagHandler {
 		ParsoidExtensionAPI $extApi, DOMElement $node, bool $wrapperUnmodified
 	) {
 		$dataMw = DOMDataUtils::getDataMw( $node );
-		if ( !empty( $dataMw->autoGenerated ) && ( ( $dataMw->attrs->group ?? '' ) !== ''
-			|| $extApi->rtTestMode() ) ) {
+		if ( !empty( $dataMw->autoGenerated ) && ( $dataMw->attrs->group ?? '' ) !== '' ) {
 			// Eliminate auto-inserted <references /> noise in rt-testing
 			return '';
 		} else {