diff --git a/mongo/integration/mtest/mongotest.go b/mongo/integration/mtest/mongotest.go
index 518959bdbe..70c0f0333d 100644
--- a/mongo/integration/mtest/mongotest.go
+++ b/mongo/integration/mtest/mongotest.go
@@ -744,13 +744,9 @@ func (t *T) createTestClient() {
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error creating client: %v", err)
 	}
-	ctx := context.Background()
-	if err := t.Client.Connect(ctx); err != nil {
+	if err := t.Client.Connect(context.Background()); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error connecting client: %v", err)
 	}
-	if err := t.Client.Ping(ctx, nil); err != nil {
-		t.Fatalf("error pinging client: %v", err)
-	}
 }
 
 func (t *T) createTestCollection() {
diff --git a/mongo/integration/unified_spec_test.go b/mongo/integration/unified_spec_test.go
index df2d705132..d26a98c162 100644
--- a/mongo/integration/unified_spec_test.go
+++ b/mongo/integration/unified_spec_test.go
@@ -312,6 +312,9 @@ func runSpecTestCase(mt *mtest.T, test *testCase, testFile testFile) {
 			testClientOpts.SetHeartbeatInterval(defaultHeartbeatInterval)
 		}
 		mt.ResetClient(testClientOpts)
+		if err := mt.Client.Ping(context.Background(), nil); err != nil {
+			assert.Nil(mt, err, "error pinging client")
+		}
 
 		// Record the underlying topology for the test's Client.
 		test.testTopology = getTopologyFromClient(mt.Client)