diff --git a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactElementClone-test.js b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactElementClone-test.js
index 4a350103d22cd..a8cf751635149 100644
--- a/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactElementClone-test.js
+++ b/packages/react/src/__tests__/ReactElementClone-test.js
@@ -292,39 +292,38 @@ describe('ReactElementClone', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  // @gate !disableStringRefs
   it('should steal the ref if a new string ref is specified without an owner', async () => {
     // Regression test for this specific feature combination calling cloneElement on an element
     // without an owner
-    if (gate(flags => !flags.enableRefAsProp && !flags.disableStringRefs)) {
-      await expect(async () => {
-        // create an element without an owner
-        const element = React.createElement('div', {id: 'some-id'});
-        class Parent extends React.Component {
-          render() {
-            return <Child>{element}</Child>;
-          }
+    await expect(async () => {
+      // create an element without an owner
+      const element = React.createElement('div', {id: 'some-id'});
+      class Parent extends React.Component {
+        render() {
+          return <Child>{element}</Child>;
         }
-        let child;
-        class Child extends React.Component {
-          render() {
-            child = this;
-            const clone = React.cloneElement(this.props.children, {
-              ref: 'xyz',
-            });
-            return <div>{clone}</div>;
-          }
+      }
+      let child;
+      class Child extends React.Component {
+        render() {
+          child = this;
+          const clone = React.cloneElement(this.props.children, {
+            ref: 'xyz',
+          });
+          return <div>{clone}</div>;
         }
+      }
 
-        const root = ReactDOMClient.createRoot(document.createElement('div'));
-        await act(() => root.render(<Parent />));
-        expect(child.refs.xyz.tagName).toBe('DIV');
-      }).toErrorDev([
-        'Warning: Component "Child" contains the string ref "xyz". Support for ' +
-          'string refs will be removed in a future major release. We recommend ' +
-          'using useRef() or createRef() instead. Learn more about using refs ' +
-          'safely here: https://react.dev/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
-      ]);
-    }
+      const root = ReactDOMClient.createRoot(document.createElement('div'));
+      await act(() => root.render(<Parent />));
+      expect(child.refs.xyz.tagName).toBe('DIV');
+    }).toErrorDev([
+      'Warning: Component "Child" contains the string ref "xyz". Support for ' +
+        'string refs will be removed in a future major release. We recommend ' +
+        'using useRef() or createRef() instead. Learn more about using refs ' +
+        'safely here: https://react.dev/link/strict-mode-string-ref',
+    ]);
   });
 
   it('should overwrite props', async () => {