diff --git a/start.py b/start.py
index 1d14a7def8..5242a50f14 100644
--- a/start.py
+++ b/start.py
@@ -572,7 +572,6 @@ def _process_arguments() -> tuple:
         sys.argv.insert(idx, "tray")
 
     if "--automatic_tests" in sys.argv:
-        sys.argv.remove("--automatic_tests")
         automatic_tests = True
 
     return use_version, use_staging, commands, automatic_tests