diff --git a/conda-store-server/tests/user_journeys/test_user_journeys.py b/conda-store-server/tests/user_journeys/test_user_journeys.py
index 474343419..176162bd8 100644
--- a/conda-store-server/tests/user_journeys/test_user_journeys.py
+++ b/conda-store-server/tests/user_journeys/test_user_journeys.py
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ def verify_ssl() -> bool:
     If CONDA_STORE_TEST_VERIFY_SSL is 0, ssl verification is disabled. For all
     other inputs, ssl verification is enabled.
     """
-    return bool(os.environ.get("CONDA_STORE_TEST_VERIFY_SSL", True))
+    verify = os.environ.get("CONDA_STORE_TEST_VERIFY_SSL", "true")
+    return verify.lower() not in ("0", "false")
 
 
 @pytest.mark.user_journey
@@ -59,10 +60,10 @@ def test_admin_user_can_create_environment(
     ],
 )
 def test_admin_login_and_delete_shared_environment(
-    base_url: str, specification_path: str, verify_ssl: bool
+    base_url: str, token: str, specification_path: str, verify_ssl: bool
 ) -> None:
     """Test that an admin can login and create/delete an env in a shared namespace."""
-    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
+    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, token=token, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
 
     # Create a shared namespace; default permissions for namepace/environment
     # */* is admin
@@ -84,10 +85,10 @@ def test_admin_login_and_delete_shared_environment(
     ],
 )
 def test_user_login_and_create_shared_environment(
-    base_url: str, specification_path: str, verify_ssl: bool
+    base_url: str, token: str, specification_path: str, verify_ssl: bool
 ) -> None:
     """Test that a user can login and create an environment in a shared namespace."""
-    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
+    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, token=token, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
 
     # Create a shared namespace; default permissions for namepace/environment
     # */* is admin
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@ def test_user_login_and_create_shared_environment(
 
     dev_api = utils.API(
         base_url=base_url,
+        verify_ssl=verify_ssl,
         token=api.create_token(
             namespace,
             "developer",
@@ -111,13 +113,13 @@ def test_user_login_and_create_shared_environment(
 
 
 @pytest.mark.user_journey
-def test_admin_set_active_build(base_url: str, verify_ssl: bool):
+def test_admin_set_active_build(base_url: str, token: str, verify_ssl: bool):
     """Test that an admin can delete environments."""
     specs = [
         "tests/user_journeys/test_data/simple_environment.yaml",
         "tests/user_journeys/test_data/simple_environment2.yaml",
     ]
-    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
+    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, token=token, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
     namespace = api.create_namespace().json()["data"]["name"]
     envs = set()
     for spec in specs:
@@ -159,9 +161,9 @@ def test_admin_set_active_build(base_url: str, verify_ssl: bool):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.user_journey
-def test_failed_build_logs(base_url: str, verify_ssl: bool):
+def test_failed_build_logs(base_url: str, token: str, verify_ssl: bool):
     """Test that a user can access logs for a failed build."""
-    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
+    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, token=token, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
     namespace = "default"
     build_request = api.create_environment(
         namespace,
@@ -181,9 +183,9 @@ def test_failed_build_logs(base_url: str, verify_ssl: bool):
 
 
 @pytest.mark.user_journey
-def test_cancel_build(base_url: str, verify_ssl: bool):
+def test_cancel_build(base_url: str, token: str, verify_ssl: bool):
     """Test that a user cancel a build in progress."""
-    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
+    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, token=token, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
     namespace = "default"
     build_id = api.create_environment(
         namespace,
@@ -213,9 +215,9 @@ def check_status():
 
 
 @pytest.mark.user_journey
-def test_get_lockfile(base_url: str, verify_ssl: bool):
+def test_get_lockfile(base_url: str, token: str, verify_ssl: bool):
     """Test that an admin can access a valid lockfile for a build."""
-    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
+    api = utils.API(base_url=base_url, token=token, verify_ssl=verify_ssl)
     namespace = "default"
     build_request = api.create_environment(
         namespace,
diff --git a/conda-store-server/tests/user_journeys/utils/api_utils.py b/conda-store-server/tests/user_journeys/utils/api_utils.py
index ba3f2e60e..fb83a5a8e 100644
--- a/conda-store-server/tests/user_journeys/utils/api_utils.py
+++ b/conda-store-server/tests/user_journeys/utils/api_utils.py
@@ -12,8 +12,6 @@
 
 import requests
 
-import utils.time_utils as time_utils
-
 TIMEOUT = 10
 
 
@@ -136,7 +134,6 @@ def create_token(
         """Create a token with a specified role in a specified namespace."""
         json_data = {
             "primary_namespace": default_namespace,
-            "expiration": time_utils.get_iso8601_time(1),
             "role_bindings": {f"{namespace}/*": [role]},
         }
         return self._make_request("api/v1/token", method="POST", json_data=json_data)