diff --git a/source/test-java/org/alfresco/rest/api/tests/NodeApiTest.java b/source/test-java/org/alfresco/rest/api/tests/NodeApiTest.java
index 334e5a25da..eb3d6028f9 100644
--- a/source/test-java/org/alfresco/rest/api/tests/NodeApiTest.java
+++ b/source/test-java/org/alfresco/rest/api/tests/NodeApiTest.java
@@ -1486,17 +1486,7 @@ public class NodeApiTest extends AbstractBaseApiTest
 
         // filtering, via where clause (nodeType + optionally including sub-types)
 
-        // note: subtle issue - in order to filter by "cm:link" the qname must have been created in the DB (in a write txn)
-        // otherwise query will not match a missing qname (hmm). Workaround here by forcing the create of an explicit "cm:link".
-
-        // create link (dangling here)
-        nodeName = "link 3";
-        nodeType = "cm:link";
-
-        nodeResp = createNode(user1, f2Id, nodeName, nodeType, props);
-        String n3Id = nodeResp.getId();
-
-        List<String> linkIds = Arrays.asList(n1Id, n2Id, n3Id);
+        List<String> linkIds = Arrays.asList(n1Id, n2Id);
 
         Map<String, String> params = new HashMap<>();
         params.put("where", "(nodeType='cm:link')");
@@ -1505,7 +1495,7 @@ public class NodeApiTest extends AbstractBaseApiTest
 
         response = getAll(getChildrenUrl(f2Id), user1, paging, params, 200);
         List<Node> nodes = jacksonUtil.parseEntries(response.getJsonResponse(), Node.class);
-        assertEquals(1, nodes.size());
+        assertEquals(0, nodes.size());
 
         // filter by including sub-types - note: includesubtypes is case-insensitive
 
@@ -1516,7 +1506,7 @@ public class NodeApiTest extends AbstractBaseApiTest
 
         response = getAll(getChildrenUrl(f2Id), user1, paging, params, 200);
         nodes = jacksonUtil.parseEntries(response.getJsonResponse(), Node.class);
-        assertEquals(3, nodes.size());
+        assertEquals(linkIds.size(), nodes.size());
         assertTrue(linkIds.contains(nodes.get(0).getId()));
         assertTrue(linkIds.contains(nodes.get(1).getId()));
 
@@ -1527,7 +1517,7 @@ public class NodeApiTest extends AbstractBaseApiTest
 
         response = getAll(getChildrenUrl(f2Id), user1, paging, params, 200);
         nodes = jacksonUtil.parseEntries(response.getJsonResponse(), Node.class);
-        assertEquals(3, nodes.size());
+        assertEquals(linkIds.size(), nodes.size());
         assertTrue(linkIds.contains(nodes.get(0).getId()));
         assertTrue(linkIds.contains(nodes.get(1).getId()));