diff --git a/karapace/schema_models.py b/karapace/schema_models.py
index 43218a5c2..58ab20835 100644
--- a/karapace/schema_models.py
+++ b/karapace/schema_models.py
@@ -188,15 +188,16 @@ def __init__(self, schema_str: str, dependencies: Mapping[str, Dependency] | Non
         self.schema_str = json_encode(json_decode(schema_str), compact=True, sort_keys=True)
         self.dependencies = dependencies
         self.unique_id = 0
+        self.regex = re.compile(r"^\s*\[")
 
     def union_safe_schema_str(self, schema_str: str) -> str:
         # in case we meet union - we use it as is
-        regex = re.compile(r"^\s*\[")
+
         base_schema = (
             f'{{"name": "___RESERVED_KARAPACE_WRAPPER_NAME_{self.unique_id}___",'
             f'"type": "record", "fields": [{{"name": "name", "type":'
         )
-        if regex.match(schema_str):
+        if self.regex.match(schema_str):
             return f"{base_schema} {schema_str}}}]}}"
         return f"{base_schema} [{schema_str}]}}]}}"
 
@@ -229,7 +230,6 @@ def parse(
     references: Sequence[Reference] | None = None,
     dependencies: Mapping[str, Dependency] | None = None,
     normalize: bool = False,
-    dependencies_compat: bool = False,
 ) -> ParsedTypedSchema:
     if schema_type not in [SchemaType.AVRO, SchemaType.JSONSCHEMA, SchemaType.PROTOBUF]:
         raise InvalidSchema(f"Unknown parser {schema_type} for {schema_str}")
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ def parse(
     parsed_schema: Draft7Validator | AvroSchema | ProtobufSchema
     if schema_type is SchemaType.AVRO:
         try:
-            if dependencies or dependencies_compat:
+            if dependencies:
                 wrapped_schema_str = AvroMerge(schema_str, dependencies).wrap()
             else:
                 wrapped_schema_str = schema_str
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ def parse(
                 validate_enum_symbols=validate_avro_enum_symbols,
                 validate_names=validate_avro_names,
             )
-            if dependencies or dependencies_compat:
+            if dependencies:
                 if isinstance(parsed_schema, avro.schema.UnionSchema):
                     parsed_schema_result = parsed_schema.schemas[-1].fields[0].type.schemas[-1]
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_schema_avro_references.py b/tests/integration/test_schema_avro_references.py
index 3c4cfc8ba..b1308e0e8 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_schema_avro_references.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_schema_avro_references.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@
     ],
 }
 
-SCHEMA_PERSON_INT_LONG = {
+SCHEMA_PERSON_AGE_INT_LONG = {
     "type": "record",
     "name": "Person",
     "namespace": "com.netapp",
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@
     ],
 }
 
-SCHEMA_PERSON_INT_STRING = {
+SCHEMA_PERSON_AGE_LONG_STRING = {
     "type": "record",
     "name": "Person",
     "namespace": "com.netapp",
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ async def test_avro_references_compatibility(registry_async_client: Client) -> N
         f"compatibility/subjects/{subject_prefix}person/versions/latest",
         json={
             "schemaType": "AVRO",
-            "schema": json.dumps(SCHEMA_PERSON_INT_LONG),
+            "schema": json.dumps(SCHEMA_PERSON_AGE_INT_LONG),
             "references": person_references(subject_prefix),
         },
     )
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ async def test_avro_references_compatibility(registry_async_client: Client) -> N
         f"compatibility/subjects/{subject_prefix}person/versions/latest",
         json={
             "schemaType": "AVRO",
-            "schema": json.dumps(SCHEMA_PERSON_INT_STRING),
+            "schema": json.dumps(SCHEMA_PERSON_AGE_LONG_STRING),
             "references": person_references(subject_prefix),
         },
     )