diff --git a/x-pack/qa/rolling-upgrade/build.gradle b/x-pack/qa/rolling-upgrade/build.gradle
index 143f767e7641a..a9e0e36112d14 100644
--- a/x-pack/qa/rolling-upgrade/build.gradle
+++ b/x-pack/qa/rolling-upgrade/build.gradle
@@ -215,9 +215,6 @@ subprojects {
           setting 'xpack.watcher.encrypt_sensitive_data', 'true'
           keystoreFile 'xpack.watcher.encryption_key', "${mainProject.projectDir}/src/test/resources/system_key"
         }
-        if (version.before('6.0.0')) {
-          keystoreSetting 'xpack.security.authc.token.passphrase', 'token passphrase'
-        }
       }
     }