diff --git a/ovn-tester/cms/ovn_kubernetes/tests/base_cluster_bringup.py b/ovn-tester/cms/ovn_kubernetes/tests/base_cluster_bringup.py
index 310fbe59..4f794497 100644
--- a/ovn-tester/cms/ovn_kubernetes/tests/base_cluster_bringup.py
+++ b/ovn-tester/cms/ovn_kubernetes/tests/base_cluster_bringup.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 from randmac import RandMac
-from ovn_utils import LSwitch
+from ovn_utils import LSwitch, OvnIcNbctl
 from ovn_context import Context
 from ovn_ext_cmd import ExtCmd
 
@@ -18,8 +18,14 @@ def __init__(self, config, clusters, global_cfg):
         self.ic_cluster = clusters[0] if len(clusters) > 1 else None
 
     def create_transit_switch(self):
-        if self.ic_cluster:
-            self.ic_cluster.icnbctl.ts_add()
+        if self.ic_cluster is None:
+            return
+
+        inactivity_probe = (
+            self.ic_cluster.cluster_cfg.db_inactivity_probe // 1000
+        )
+        ic_remote = f'tcp:{self.ic_cluster.cluster_cfg.node_net.ip + 2}:6645'
+        OvnIcNbctl(None, ic_remote, inactivity_probe).ts_add()
 
     def connect_transit_switch(self, cluster):
         if self.ic_cluster is None:
diff --git a/ovn-tester/ovn_workload.py b/ovn-tester/ovn_workload.py
index 352e4002..d7c55215 100644
--- a/ovn-tester/ovn_workload.py
+++ b/ovn-tester/ovn_workload.py
@@ -303,7 +303,6 @@ def __init__(
         self.brex_cfg = brex_cfg
         self.nbctl: Optional[ovn_utils.OvnNbctl] = None
         self.sbctl: Optional[ovn_utils.OvnSbctl] = None
-        self.icnbctl: Optional[ovn_utils.OvnIcNbctl] = None
         self.az = az
 
         protocol = "ssl" if cluster_cfg.enable_ssl else "tcp"
@@ -364,12 +363,9 @@ def start(self):
             self.central_nodes[0], sb_conn, inactivity_probe
         )
 
-        # ovn-ic configuration
-        self.icnbctl = ovn_utils.OvnIcNbctl(
-            None,
-            f'tcp:{self.cluster_cfg.node_net.ip + 2}:6645',
-            inactivity_probe,
-        )
+        # ovn-ic configuration: enable route learning/advertising to allow
+        # automatic pinging between cluster_net subnets in different AZs.
+        # This is allows IC connectivity checks.
         self.nbctl.set_global('ic-route-learn', 'true')
         self.nbctl.set_global('ic-route-adv', 'true')