diff --git a/dtc.c b/dtc.c
index ab16ab4..4b3d78f 100644
--- a/dtc.c
+++ b/dtc.c
@@ -322,7 +322,6 @@
 
 	/* on a plugin, generate by default */
 	if (bi->dtsflags & DTSF_PLUGIN) {
-		generate_symbols = 1;
 		generate_fixups = 1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/run_tests.sh b/tests/run_tests.sh
index 208d29a..157dbae 100755
--- a/tests/run_tests.sh
+++ b/tests/run_tests.sh
@@ -213,8 +213,8 @@
     run_test check_path overlay_base.test.dtb not-exists "/__fixups__"
     run_test check_path overlay_base.test.dtb not-exists "/__local_fixups__"
 
-    run_dtc_test -@ -I dts -O dtb -o overlay_overlay.test.dtb overlay_overlay.dts
-    run_test check_path overlay_overlay.test.dtb exists "/__symbols__"
+    run_dtc_test -I dts -O dtb -o overlay_overlay.test.dtb overlay_overlay.dts
+    run_test check_path overlay_overlay.test.dtb not-exists "/__symbols__"
     run_test check_path overlay_overlay.test.dtb exists "/__fixups__"
     run_test check_path overlay_overlay.test.dtb exists "/__local_fixups__"
 
@@ -225,12 +225,6 @@
     run_dtc_test -I dts -O dtb -o overlay_overlay_decompile.test.dtb overlay_overlay_decompile.test.dts
     run_test dtbs_equal_ordered overlay_overlay.test.dtb overlay_overlay_decompile.test.dtb
 
-    # test plugin auto-generation without using -@
-    run_dtc_test -I dts -O dtb -o overlay_overlay_with_symbols_auto.test.dtb overlay_overlay.dts
-    run_test check_path overlay_overlay_with_symbols_auto.test.dtb exists "/__symbols__"
-    run_test check_path overlay_overlay_with_symbols_auto.test.dtb exists "/__fixups__"
-    run_test check_path overlay_overlay_with_symbols_auto.test.dtb exists "/__local_fixups__"
-
     # Test generation of aliases insted of symbols
     run_dtc_test -A -I dts -O dtb -o overlay_base_with_aliases.dtb overlay_base.dts
     run_test check_path overlay_base_with_aliases.dtb exists "/aliases"