diff --git a/sdks/java/core/src/test/java/org/apache/beam/sdk/transforms/MetadataPropagationTest.java b/sdks/java/core/src/test/java/org/apache/beam/sdk/transforms/MetadataPropagationTest.java
index 72f914caf31e..3e5ff77cb1c4 100644
--- a/sdks/java/core/src/test/java/org/apache/beam/sdk/transforms/MetadataPropagationTest.java
+++ b/sdks/java/core/src/test/java/org/apache/beam/sdk/transforms/MetadataPropagationTest.java
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
 import org.apache.beam.sdk.testing.PAssert;
 import org.apache.beam.sdk.testing.TestPipeline;
 import org.apache.beam.sdk.testing.TestStream;
-import org.apache.beam.sdk.testing.ValidatesRunner;
 import org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.windowing.FixedWindows;
 import org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.windowing.IntervalWindow;
 import org.apache.beam.sdk.transforms.windowing.Window;
@@ -80,8 +79,13 @@ public void testMetadataPropagationAcrossShuffleParameter() {
     pipeline.run();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Tests metadata propagation for a parameter. Note: PAssert internally introduces a GroupByKey.
+   * This test works only with DirectRunner and runners that support metadata propagation across
+   * GroupByKey. See {@link #testMetadataPropagationAcrossGBK} for more information.
+   */
   @Test
-  @Category({ValidatesRunner.class, NeedsRunner.class})
+  @Category(NeedsRunner.class)
   public void testMetadataPropagationParameter() {
     WindowedValues.WindowedValueCoder.setMetadataSupported();
     PCollection<String> results =