diff --git a/tests/msc4429/msc4429_test.go b/tests/msc4429/msc4429_test.go
index 8cd318ce1..eacf1467b 100644
--- a/tests/msc4429/msc4429_test.go
+++ b/tests/msc4429/msc4429_test.go
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func TestMSC4429ProfileUpdates(t *testing.T) {
 		)
 
 		// Bob clears their status.
-		mustSetProfileField(t, bob, "m.status", nil)
+		mustDeleteProfileField(t, bob, "m.status")
 
 		// Wait until alice sees the status be set to `null` (nil).
 		alice.MustSyncUntil(
@@ -276,6 +276,12 @@ func mustSetProfileField(t *testing.T, user *client.CSAPI, field string, value i
 	)
 }
 
+// mustDeleteProfileField clears the given profile field ID on the given user's profile.
+func mustDeleteProfileField(t *testing.T, user *client.CSAPI, field string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	user.MustDo(t, "DELETE", []string{"_matrix", "client", "v3", "profile", user.UserID, field})
+}
+
 // getProfileUpdate extracts the given profile updates for a given user by field
 // ID from a legacy `/sync` response.
 func getProfileUpdate(res gjson.Result, userID, field string) (gjson.Result, bool) {