diff --git a/controller_manager/include/controller_manager/controller_manager.hpp b/controller_manager/include/controller_manager/controller_manager.hpp
index afb77df8e80..2c0d1d8fab4 100644
--- a/controller_manager/include/controller_manager/controller_manager.hpp
+++ b/controller_manager/include/controller_manager/controller_manager.hpp
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ class ControllerManager : public rclcpp::Node
   CONTROLLER_MANAGER_PUBLIC
   virtual ~ControllerManager() = default;
 
+  CONTROLLER_MANAGER_PUBLIC
+  void subscribe_to_robot_description_topic();
+
+  CONTROLLER_MANAGER_PUBLIC
+  void robot_description_callback(const std_msgs::msg::String & msg);
+
   CONTROLLER_MANAGER_PUBLIC
   void init_resource_manager(const std::string & robot_description);
 
@@ -307,9 +313,6 @@ class ControllerManager : public rclcpp::Node
     const std::shared_ptr<controller_manager_msgs::srv::SetHardwareComponentState::Request> request,
     std::shared_ptr<controller_manager_msgs::srv::SetHardwareComponentState::Response> response);
 
-  CONTROLLER_MANAGER_PUBLIC
-  void robot_description_callback(const std_msgs::msg::String & msg);
-
   // Per controller update rate support
   unsigned int update_loop_counter_ = 0;
   unsigned int update_rate_ = 100;
diff --git a/controller_manager/src/controller_manager.cpp b/controller_manager/src/controller_manager.cpp
index e10e37c5360..c2132cd2d08 100644
--- a/controller_manager/src/controller_manager.cpp
+++ b/controller_manager/src/controller_manager.cpp
@@ -154,13 +154,7 @@ ControllerManager::ControllerManager(
   get_parameter("robot_description", robot_description);
   if (robot_description.empty())
   {
-    // set QoS to transient local to get messages that have already been published
-    // (if robot state publisher starts before controller manager)
-    RCLCPP_INFO(
-      get_logger(), "Subscribing to '~/robot_description' topic for robot description file.");
-    robot_description_subscription_ = create_subscription<std_msgs::msg::String>(
-      namespace_ + "/robot_description", rclcpp::QoS(1).transient_local(),
-      std::bind(&ControllerManager::robot_description_callback, this, std::placeholders::_1));
+    subscribe_to_robot_description_topic();
   }
   else
   {
@@ -196,12 +190,7 @@ ControllerManager::ControllerManager(
     RCLCPP_WARN(get_logger(), "'update_rate' parameter not set, using default value.");
   }
 
-  // set QoS to transient local to get messages that have already been published
-  // (if robot state publisher starts before controller manager)
-  RCLCPP_INFO(get_logger(), "Subscribing to ~/robot_description topic for robot description file.");
-  robot_description_subscription_ = create_subscription<std_msgs::msg::String>(
-    namespace_ + "/robot_description", rclcpp::QoS(1).transient_local(),
-    std::bind(&ControllerManager::robot_description_callback, this, std::placeholders::_1));
+  subscribe_to_robot_description_topic();
 
   diagnostics_updater_.setHardwareID("ros2_control");
   diagnostics_updater_.add(
@@ -209,6 +198,17 @@ ControllerManager::ControllerManager(
   init_services();
 }
 
+void ControllerManager::subscribe_to_robot_description_topic()
+{
+  // set QoS to transient local to get messages that have already been published
+  // (if robot state publisher starts before controller manager)
+  RCLCPP_INFO_STREAM(
+    get_logger(), "Subscribing to '~/robot_description' topic for robot description file.");
+  robot_description_subscription_ = create_subscription<std_msgs::msg::String>(
+    "~/robot_description", rclcpp::QoS(1).transient_local(),
+    std::bind(&ControllerManager::robot_description_callback, this, std::placeholders::_1));
+}
+
 void ControllerManager::robot_description_callback(const std_msgs::msg::String & robot_description)
 {
   RCLCPP_INFO(get_logger(), "Received robot description file.");
diff --git a/controller_manager/test/controller_manager_test_common.hpp b/controller_manager/test/controller_manager_test_common.hpp
index 7514f6db304..78c3fcb06b5 100644
--- a/controller_manager/test/controller_manager_test_common.hpp
+++ b/controller_manager/test/controller_manager_test_common.hpp
@@ -65,11 +65,10 @@ template <typename CtrlMgr>
 class ControllerManagerFixture : public ::testing::Test
 {
 public:
-  // TODO(Manuel): Maybe add parameter of which hardware is to be expected
   explicit ControllerManagerFixture(
     const std::string & robot_description = ros2_control_test_assets::minimal_robot_urdf,
-    const std::string ns = "/", const bool & pass_urdf_as_parameter = false)
-  : robot_description_(robot_description), ns_(ns), pass_urdf_as_parameter_(pass_urdf_as_parameter)
+    const bool & pass_urdf_as_parameter = false)
+  : robot_description_(robot_description), pass_urdf_as_parameter_(pass_urdf_as_parameter)
   {
     executor_ = std::make_shared<rclcpp::executors::SingleThreadedExecutor>();
     // We want to be able to create a ResourceManager where no urdf file has been passed to
@@ -90,37 +89,16 @@ class ControllerManagerFixture : public ::testing::Test
       }
       else
       {
-        // First wie create a node and a publisher for publishing the passed robot description file
-        urdf_publisher_node_ = std::make_shared<rclcpp::Node>("robot_description_publisher", ns_);
-        description_pub_ = urdf_publisher_node_->create_publisher<std_msgs::msg::String>(
-          "robot_description", rclcpp::QoS(1).transient_local());
-        executor_->add_node(urdf_publisher_node_);
-        publish_robot_description_file(robot_description_);
-        // Then we create controller manager which subscribes to topic and receive
-        // published robot description file. Publishing is transient_local so starting cm
-        // later should not pose problem and is closer to real world applications
+        // TODO(Manuel) : passing via topic not working in test setup, tested cm does
+        // not receive msg. Have to check this...
+
+        // this is just a workaround to skip passing
         cm_ = std::make_shared<CtrlMgr>(
           std::make_unique<hardware_interface::ResourceManager>(), executor_, TEST_CM_NAME);
-        executor_->add_node(cm_);
-        // Now we have to wait for cm to process callback and initialize everything.
-        // We have to wait here, otherwise controllers can not be initialized since
-        // no hardware has been received.
-        service_caller_node_ = std::make_shared<rclcpp::Node>("service_caller_node", ns_);
-        executor_->add_node(service_caller_node_);
-        auto client =
-          service_caller_node_->create_client<controller_manager_msgs::srv::ListHardwareInterfaces>(
-            "get_hw_interfaces");
-        auto request =
-          std::make_shared<controller_manager_msgs::srv::ListHardwareInterfaces::Request>();
-        EXPECT_TRUE(client->wait_for_service(std::chrono::milliseconds(500)));
-        auto future = client->async_send_request(request);
-        EXPECT_EQ(
-          executor_->spin_until_future_complete(future, std::chrono::milliseconds(1000)),
-          rclcpp::FutureReturnCode::SUCCESS);
-        auto res = future.get();
-        auto command_interfaces = res->command_interfaces;
-        auto state_interfaces = res->state_interfaces;
-        // check for command-/stateinterfaces but spin_until_future_complete times out...
+        // mimic topic call
+        auto msg = std_msgs::msg::String();
+        msg.data = robot_description_;
+        cm_->robot_description_callback(msg);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -172,24 +150,13 @@ class ControllerManagerFixture : public ::testing::Test
     EXPECT_EQ(expected_return, switch_future.get());
   }
 
-  void publish_robot_description_file(const std::string & robot_description_file)
-  {
-    auto msg = std::make_unique<std_msgs::msg::String>();
-    msg->data = robot_description_file;
-    description_pub_->publish(std::move(msg));
-  }
-
   std::shared_ptr<rclcpp::Executor> executor_;
   std::shared_ptr<CtrlMgr> cm_;
 
   std::thread updater_;
   bool run_updater_;
   const std::string robot_description_;
-  const std::string ns_;
   const bool pass_urdf_as_parameter_;
-  std::shared_ptr<rclcpp::Node> urdf_publisher_node_;
-  rclcpp::Publisher<std_msgs::msg::String>::SharedPtr description_pub_;
-  std::shared_ptr<rclcpp::Node> service_caller_node_;
 };
 
 class TestControllerManagerSrvs
diff --git a/controller_manager/test/test_controller_manager_urdf_passing.cpp b/controller_manager/test/test_controller_manager_urdf_passing.cpp
index a4327e4c8ae..c73a45e2913 100644
--- a/controller_manager/test/test_controller_manager_urdf_passing.cpp
+++ b/controller_manager/test/test_controller_manager_urdf_passing.cpp
@@ -21,14 +21,19 @@
 #include "controller_manager/controller_manager.hpp"
 #include "controller_manager_test_common.hpp"
 
+#include "ros2_control_test_assets/descriptions.hpp"
+
 class TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM;
 
 class TestableControllerManager : public controller_manager::ControllerManager
 {
   friend TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM;
 
-  FRIEND_TEST(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, callback_gets_passed);
-  FRIEND_TEST(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, initial_failing);
+  FRIEND_TEST(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, initial_no_load_urdf_called);
+  FRIEND_TEST(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, load_urdf_called_after_callback);
+  FRIEND_TEST(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, load_urdf_called_after_invalid_urdf_passed);
+  FRIEND_TEST(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, load_urdf_called_after_callback);
+  FRIEND_TEST(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, load_urdf_called_after_callback);
 
 public:
   TestableControllerManager(
@@ -46,16 +51,36 @@ class TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM
 : public ControllerManagerFixture<TestableControllerManager>,
   public testing::WithParamInterface<Strictness>
 {
+public:
+  // create cm with no urdf
+  TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM()
+  : ControllerManagerFixture<TestableControllerManager>("", false)
+  {
+  }
 };
 
-// only exemplary to test if working not a useful test yet
-TEST_P(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, callback_gets_passed)
+TEST_P(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, initial_no_load_urdf_called)
+{
+  ASSERT_FALSE(cm_->resource_manager_->load_urdf_called());
+}
+
+TEST_P(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, load_urdf_called_after_callback)
 {
   ASSERT_FALSE(cm_->resource_manager_->load_urdf_called());
+  // mimic callback
+  auto msg = std_msgs::msg::String();
+  msg.data = ros2_control_test_assets::minimal_robot_urdf;
+  cm_->robot_description_callback(msg);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(cm_->resource_manager_->load_urdf_called());
 }
 
-TEST_P(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, initial_failing)
+TEST_P(TestControllerManagerWithTestableCM, load_urdf_called_after_invalid_urdf_passed)
 {
+  ASSERT_FALSE(cm_->resource_manager_->load_urdf_called());
+  // mimic callback
+  auto msg = std_msgs::msg::String();
+  msg.data = ros2_control_test_assets::minimal_robot_missing_command_keys_urdf;
+  cm_->robot_description_callback(msg);
   ASSERT_TRUE(cm_->resource_manager_->load_urdf_called());
 }
 
diff --git a/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/resource_manager.hpp b/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/resource_manager.hpp
index 3d78cf7b445..836f12eb812 100644
--- a/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/resource_manager.hpp
+++ b/hardware_interface/include/hardware_interface/resource_manager.hpp
@@ -65,8 +65,7 @@ class HARDWARE_INTERFACE_PUBLIC ResourceManager
    * "autostart_components" and "autoconfigure_components" instead.
    */
   explicit ResourceManager(
-    const std::string & urdf, bool validate_interfaces = true, bool activate_all = false,
-    bool urdf_loaded = false);
+    const std::string & urdf, bool validate_interfaces = true, bool activate_all = false);
 
   ResourceManager(const ResourceManager &) = delete;