diff --git a/yugabyte/src/yugabyte/auto.clj b/yugabyte/src/yugabyte/auto.clj
index 55c2e7760..eabd5f5be 100644
--- a/yugabyte/src/yugabyte/auto.clj
+++ b/yugabyte/src/yugabyte/auto.clj
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
             [jepsen.control.net :as cn]
             [jepsen.control.util :as cu]
             [jepsen.os.debian :as debian]
+            [version-clj.core :as v]
             [yugabyte.ycql.client :as ycql.client]
             [yugabyte.ysql.client :as ysql.client]
             [yugabyte.utils :as utils]
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@
 (def master-log-dir (str dir "/master/logs"))
 (def tserver-log-dir (str dir "/tserver/logs"))
 (def installed-url-file (str dir "/installed-url"))
+(def minimal-packed-version "2.16.4.0-b1")
 
 (def max-bump-time-ops-per-test
   "Upper bound on number of bump time ops per test, needed to estimate max
@@ -317,8 +319,8 @@
    ])
 
 (defn master-tserver-packed-columns
-  [packed-columns-enabled]
-  (if packed-columns-enabled
+  [test]
+  (if (and (v/newer-or-equal? (:version test) minimal-packed-version) (:yb-packed-columns-enabled test))
     [:--ysql_enable_packed_row]
     [])
   )
@@ -478,7 +480,7 @@
             (master-tserver-experimental-tuning-flags test)
             (master-tserver-random-clock-skew test node)
             (master-tserver-wait-on-conflict-flags test)
-            (master-tserver-packed-columns (:yb-packed-columns-enabled test))
+            (master-tserver-packed-columns test)
             (master-tserver-geo-partitioning-flags test node (:nodes test))
             (master-api-opts (:api test) node)
             )))
@@ -499,7 +501,7 @@
             (master-tserver-experimental-tuning-flags test)
             (master-tserver-random-clock-skew test node)
             (master-tserver-wait-on-conflict-flags test)
-            (master-tserver-packed-columns (:yb-packed-columns-enabled test))
+            (master-tserver-packed-columns test)
             (master-tserver-geo-partitioning-flags test node (:nodes test))
             (tserver-api-opts (:api test) node)
             (tserver-read-committed-flags test)
diff --git a/yugabyte/src/yugabyte/core.clj b/yugabyte/src/yugabyte/core.clj
index 34dc3c72e..5ff84a28d 100644
--- a/yugabyte/src/yugabyte/core.clj
+++ b/yugabyte/src/yugabyte/core.clj
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
             [yugabyte.set :as set]
             [yugabyte.utils :as utils]
             [yugabyte.utils :refer :all]
-            [version-clj.core :as v] 
             [yugabyte.ycql.bank]
             [yugabyte.ycql.bank-improved]
             [yugabyte.ycql.counter]
@@ -41,7 +40,6 @@
   (:import (jepsen.client Client)))
 
 (def version-regex #"(?<=yugabyte\-)(\d+\.\d+(\.\d+){0,2}(-b\d+)?)")
-(def minimal-packed-version "2.16.4.0-b1")
 
 (defn noop-test
   "NOOP test, exists to validate setup/teardown phases"
@@ -315,10 +313,9 @@
 (defn test-3
   "Final phase where we define global cluster configuration parameters"
   [opts]
-  (let [packed-columns-enabled (and (v/newer-or-equal? (:version test) minimal-packed-version) (> (rand) 0.5)) 
-        colocated (and (not (utils/is-test-geo-partitioned? opts)) (> (rand) 0.5))] 
-    (assoc opts :yb-packed-columns-enabled packed-columns-enabled :yb-colocated colocated))
-    ())
+  (let [packed-columns-enabled (> (rand) 0.5)
+        colocated (and (not (utils/is-test-geo-partitioned? opts)) (> (rand) 0.5))]
+    (assoc opts :yb-packed-columns-enabled packed-columns-enabled :yb-colocated colocated)))
 
 (defn yb-test
   "Constructs a yugabyte test from CLI options."