diff --git a/tests/library-infinitepush.sh b/tests/library-infinitepush.sh
--- a/tests/library-infinitepush.sh
+++ b/tests/library-infinitepush.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@
 [extensions]
 infinitepush=
 [ui]
-ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
 [infinitepush]
 branchpattern=re:scratch/.*
 EOF
diff --git a/tests/narrow-library.sh b/tests/narrow-library.sh
--- a/tests/narrow-library.sh
+++ b/tests/narrow-library.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 [extensions]
 narrow=
 [ui]
-ssh="$PYTHON" "$RUNTESTDIR/dummyssh"
 [experimental]
 changegroup3 = True
 EOF
diff --git a/tests/remotefilelog-library.sh b/tests/remotefilelog-library.sh
--- a/tests/remotefilelog-library.sh
+++ b/tests/remotefilelog-library.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 rebase=
 strip=
 [ui]
-ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
 [server]
 preferuncompressed=True
 [experimental]
diff --git a/tests/test-bookmarks-corner-case.t b/tests/test-bookmarks-corner-case.t
--- a/tests/test-bookmarks-corner-case.t
+++ b/tests/test-bookmarks-corner-case.t
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@
 
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH << EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [server]
   > concurrent-push-mode=check-related
   > EOF
diff --git a/tests/test-bookmarks-pushpull.t b/tests/test-bookmarks-pushpull.t
--- a/tests/test-bookmarks-pushpull.t
+++ b/tests/test-bookmarks-pushpull.t
@@ -1143,7 +1143,6 @@
   > ssh=ssh://user@dummy/issue4455-dest
   > http=http://localhost:$HGPORT/
   > [ui]
-  > ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > EOF
   $ cat >> ../issue4455-dest/.hg/hgrc << EOF
   > [hooks]
@@ -1270,7 +1269,6 @@
 
   $ cat << EOF >> $HGRCPATH
   > [ui]
-  > ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [server]
   > bookmarks-pushkey-compat = yes
   > EOF
diff --git a/tests/test-bundle2-exchange.t b/tests/test-bundle2-exchange.t
--- a/tests/test-bundle2-exchange.t
+++ b/tests/test-bundle2-exchange.t
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
   > evolution.exchange=True
   > bundle2-output-capture=True
   > [ui]
-  > ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [command-templates]
   > log={rev}:{node|short} {phase} {author} {bookmarks} {desc|firstline}
   > [web]
@@ -924,7 +923,6 @@
   $ cp $TESTTMP/hgrc.orig $HGRCPATH
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH <<EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > EOF
 
   $ cat >> $TESTTMP/locktester.py <<EOF
diff --git a/tests/test-bundle2-format.t b/tests/test-bundle2-format.t
--- a/tests/test-bundle2-format.t
+++ b/tests/test-bundle2-format.t
@@ -234,7 +234,6 @@
   > [experimental]
   > evolution.createmarkers=True
   > [ui]
-  > ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [command-templates]
   > log={rev}:{node|short} {phase} {author} {bookmarks} {desc|firstline}
   > [web]
diff --git a/tests/test-bundle2-pushback.t b/tests/test-bundle2-pushback.t
--- a/tests/test-bundle2-pushback.t
+++ b/tests/test-bundle2-pushback.t
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@
 
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH <<EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > username = nobody <no.reply@example.com>
   > 
   > [alias]
diff --git a/tests/test-bundle2-remote-changegroup.t b/tests/test-bundle2-remote-changegroup.t
--- a/tests/test-bundle2-remote-changegroup.t
+++ b/tests/test-bundle2-remote-changegroup.t
@@ -95,7 +95,6 @@
 
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH << EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [command-templates]
   > log={rev}:{node|short} {phase} {author} {bookmarks} {desc|firstline}
   > EOF
diff --git a/tests/test-clone.t b/tests/test-clone.t
--- a/tests/test-clone.t
+++ b/tests/test-clone.t
@@ -1125,7 +1125,7 @@
   $ hg id -R remote -r 0
   abort: repository remote not found
   [255]
-  $ hg --config share.pool=share -q clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" a ssh://user@dummy/remote
+  $ hg --config share.pool=share -q clone a ssh://user@dummy/remote
   $ hg -R remote id -r 0
   acb14030fe0a
 
diff --git a/tests/test-clonebundles.t b/tests/test-clonebundles.t
--- a/tests/test-clonebundles.t
+++ b/tests/test-clonebundles.t
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@
 
 Feature works over SSH
 
-  $ hg clone -U -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/server ssh-full-clone
+  $ hg clone -U ssh://user@dummy/server ssh-full-clone
   applying clone bundle from http://localhost:$HGPORT1/full.hg
   adding changesets
   adding manifests
diff --git a/tests/test-debugcommands.t b/tests/test-debugcommands.t
--- a/tests/test-debugcommands.t
+++ b/tests/test-debugcommands.t
@@ -644,12 +644,12 @@
 
 Test debugpeer
 
-  $ hg --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" debugpeer ssh://user@dummy/debugrevlog
+  $ hg debugpeer ssh://user@dummy/debugrevlog
   url: ssh://user@dummy/debugrevlog
   local: no
   pushable: yes
 
-  $ hg --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" --debug debugpeer ssh://user@dummy/debugrevlog
+  $ hg --debug debugpeer ssh://user@dummy/debugrevlog
   running "*" "*/tests/dummyssh" 'user@dummy' 'hg -R debugrevlog serve --stdio' (glob) (no-windows !)
   running "*" "*\tests/dummyssh" "user@dummy" "hg -R debugrevlog serve --stdio" (glob) (windows !)
   devel-peer-request: hello+between
diff --git a/tests/test-fastannotate-protocol.t b/tests/test-fastannotate-protocol.t
--- a/tests/test-fastannotate-protocol.t
+++ b/tests/test-fastannotate-protocol.t
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH << EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [extensions]
   > fastannotate=
   > [fastannotate]
diff --git a/tests/test-infinitepush-ci.t b/tests/test-infinitepush-ci.t
--- a/tests/test-infinitepush-ci.t
+++ b/tests/test-infinitepush-ci.t
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
   $ . "$TESTDIR/library-infinitepush.sh"
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH <<EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [alias]
   > glog = log -GT "{rev}:{node|short} {desc}\n{phase}"
   > EOF
diff --git a/tests/test-init.t b/tests/test-init.t
--- a/tests/test-init.t
+++ b/tests/test-init.t
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@
 
 init+push to remote2
 
-  $ hg init -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote2
+  $ hg init ssh://user@dummy/remote2
   $ hg incoming -R remote2 local
   comparing with local
   changeset:   0:08b9e9f63b32
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
   summary:     init
   
 
-  $ hg push -R local -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote2
+  $ hg push -R local ssh://user@dummy/remote2
   pushing to ssh://user@dummy/remote2
   searching for changes
   remote: adding changesets
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@
 
 clone to remote1
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" local ssh://user@dummy/remote1
+  $ hg clone local ssh://user@dummy/remote1
   searching for changes
   remote: adding changesets
   remote: adding manifests
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@
   remote: added 1 changesets with 1 changes to 1 files
 
 The largefiles extension doesn't crash
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" local ssh://user@dummy/remotelf --config extensions.largefiles=
+  $ hg clone local ssh://user@dummy/remotelf --config extensions.largefiles=
   The fsmonitor extension is incompatible with the largefiles extension and has been disabled. (fsmonitor !)
   The fsmonitor extension is incompatible with the largefiles extension and has been disabled. (fsmonitor !)
   searching for changes
@@ -162,14 +162,14 @@
 
 init to existing repo
 
-  $ hg init -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote1
+  $ hg init ssh://user@dummy/remote1
   abort: repository remote1 already exists
   abort: could not create remote repo
   [255]
 
 clone to existing repo
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" local ssh://user@dummy/remote1
+  $ hg clone local ssh://user@dummy/remote1
   abort: repository remote1 already exists
   abort: could not create remote repo
   [255]
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@
   $ hg -R local bookmark test
   $ hg -R local bookmarks
    * test                      0:08b9e9f63b32
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" local ssh://user@dummy/remote-bookmarks
+  $ hg clone local ssh://user@dummy/remote-bookmarks
   searching for changes
   remote: adding changesets
   remote: adding manifests
diff --git a/tests/test-largefiles-wireproto.t b/tests/test-largefiles-wireproto.t
--- a/tests/test-largefiles-wireproto.t
+++ b/tests/test-largefiles-wireproto.t
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@
 #endif
 
 vanilla clients locked out from largefiles ssh repos
-  $ hg --config extensions.largefiles=! clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/r4 r5
+  $ hg --config extensions.largefiles=! clone ssh://user@dummy/r4 r5
   remote: 
   remote: This repository uses the largefiles extension.
   remote: 
diff --git a/tests/test-log.t b/tests/test-log.t
--- a/tests/test-log.t
+++ b/tests/test-log.t
@@ -2516,10 +2516,10 @@
 is global. So we shouldn't expect the namespace always exists. Using
 ssh:// makes sure a bundle repository is created from scratch. (issue6301)
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" \
+  $ hg clone \
   >          -qr0 "ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`/a" a-clone
   $ hg incoming --config extensions.names=names.py -R a-clone \
-  >             -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" -T '{bars}\n' -l1
+  > -T '{bars}\n' -l1
   comparing with ssh://user@dummy/$TESTTMP/a
   searching for changes
   
diff --git a/tests/test-logexchange.t b/tests/test-logexchange.t
--- a/tests/test-logexchange.t
+++ b/tests/test-logexchange.t
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH << EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [alias]
   > glog = log -G -T '{rev}:{node|short}  {desc}'
   > [extensions]
diff --git a/tests/test-missing-capability.t b/tests/test-missing-capability.t
--- a/tests/test-missing-capability.t
+++ b/tests/test-missing-capability.t
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
   > EOF
   $ cat >> .hg/hgrc <<EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > EOF
 
   $ hg pull ssh://user@dummy/repo1 -r tip -B a
diff --git a/tests/test-persistent-nodemap.t b/tests/test-persistent-nodemap.t
--- a/tests/test-persistent-nodemap.t
+++ b/tests/test-persistent-nodemap.t
@@ -868,7 +868,7 @@
 
 No race condition
 
-  $ hg clone -U --stream --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/test-repo stream-clone --debug | egrep '00(changelog|manifest)'
+  $ hg clone -U --stream ssh://user@dummy/test-repo stream-clone --debug | egrep '00(changelog|manifest)'
   adding [s] 00manifest.n (62 bytes)
   adding [s] 00manifest-*.nd (118 KB) (glob)
   adding [s] 00changelog.n (62 bytes)
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@
 
 Do a mix of clone and commit at the same time so that the file listed on disk differ at actual transfer time.
 
-  $ (hg clone -U --stream --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/test-repo stream-clone-race-1 --debug 2>> clone-output | egrep '00(changelog|manifest)' >> clone-output; touch $HG_TEST_STREAM_WALKED_FILE_3) &
+  $ (hg clone -U --stream ssh://user@dummy/test-repo stream-clone-race-1 --debug 2>> clone-output | egrep '00(changelog|manifest)' >> clone-output; touch $HG_TEST_STREAM_WALKED_FILE_3) &
   $ $RUNTESTDIR/testlib/wait-on-file 10 $HG_TEST_STREAM_WALKED_FILE_1
   $ hg -R test-repo/ commit -m foo
   $ touch $HG_TEST_STREAM_WALKED_FILE_2
@@ -1030,7 +1030,7 @@
 Performe the mix of clone and full refresh of the nodemap, so that the files
 (and filenames) are different between listing time and actual transfer time.
 
-  $ (hg clone -U --stream --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/test-repo stream-clone-race-2 --debug 2>> clone-output-2 | egrep '00(changelog|manifest)' >> clone-output-2; touch $HG_TEST_STREAM_WALKED_FILE_3) &
+  $ (hg clone -U --stream ssh://user@dummy/test-repo stream-clone-race-2 --debug 2>> clone-output-2 | egrep '00(changelog|manifest)' >> clone-output-2; touch $HG_TEST_STREAM_WALKED_FILE_3) &
   $ $RUNTESTDIR/testlib/wait-on-file 10 $HG_TEST_STREAM_WALKED_FILE_1
   $ rm test-repo/.hg/store/00changelog.n
   $ rm test-repo/.hg/store/00changelog-*.nd
diff --git a/tests/test-push-race.t b/tests/test-push-race.t
--- a/tests/test-push-race.t
+++ b/tests/test-push-race.t
@@ -102,7 +102,6 @@
 
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH << EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > # simplify output
   > logtemplate = {node|short} {desc} ({branch})
   > [phases]
diff --git a/tests/test-share.t b/tests/test-share.t
--- a/tests/test-share.t
+++ b/tests/test-share.t
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@
 Cloning a shared repo via bundle2 results in a non-shared clone
 
   $ cd ..
-  $ hg clone -q --stream --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`/repo2 cloned-via-bundle2
+  $ hg clone -q --stream ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`/repo2 cloned-via-bundle2
   $ cat ./cloned-via-bundle2/.hg/requires | grep "shared"
   [1]
   $ hg id --cwd cloned-via-bundle2 -r tip
diff --git a/tests/test-sparse-clone.t b/tests/test-sparse-clone.t
--- a/tests/test-sparse-clone.t
+++ b/tests/test-sparse-clone.t
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH << EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$RUNTESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > username = nobody <no.reply@fb.com>
   > [extensions]
   > sparse=
diff --git a/tests/test-ssh-batch.t b/tests/test-ssh-batch.t
--- a/tests/test-ssh-batch.t
+++ b/tests/test-ssh-batch.t
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 fails (thus causing the sshpeer to be stopped), the errors from the
 further lookups don't result in tracebacks.
 
-  $ hg pull -r b0 -r nosuchbookmark $(for i in $($TESTDIR/seq.py 1 20); do echo -r b$i; done) -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/$(pwd)/../a
+  $ hg pull -r b0 -r nosuchbookmark $(for i in $($TESTDIR/seq.py 1 20); do echo -r b$i; done) ssh://user@dummy/$(pwd)/../a
   pulling from ssh://user@dummy/$TESTTMP/b/../a
   abort: unknown revision 'nosuchbookmark'
   [255]
diff --git a/tests/test-ssh-bundle1.t b/tests/test-ssh-bundle1.t
--- a/tests/test-ssh-bundle1.t
+++ b/tests/test-ssh-bundle1.t
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
 
 repo not found error
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/nonexistent local
+  $ hg clone ssh://user@dummy/nonexistent local
   remote: abort: repository nonexistent not found
   abort: no suitable response from remote hg
   [255]
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@
 non-existent absolute path
 
 #if no-msys
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy//`pwd`/nonexistent local
+  $ hg clone ssh://user@dummy//`pwd`/nonexistent local
   remote: abort: repository /$TESTTMP/nonexistent not found
   abort: no suitable response from remote hg
   [255]
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@
 
 #if no-reposimplestore
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" --stream ssh://user@dummy/remote local-stream
+  $ hg clone --stream ssh://user@dummy/remote local-stream
   streaming all changes
   4 files to transfer, 602 bytes of data (no-zstd !)
   transferred 602 bytes in * seconds (*) (glob) (no-zstd !)
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@
 clone bookmarks via stream
 
   $ hg -R local-stream book mybook
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" --stream ssh://user@dummy/local-stream stream2
+  $ hg clone --stream ssh://user@dummy/local-stream stream2
   streaming all changes
   4 files to transfer, 602 bytes of data (no-zstd !)
   transferred 602 bytes in * seconds (*) (glob) (no-zstd !)
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@
 
 clone remote via pull
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote local
+  $ hg clone ssh://user@dummy/remote local
   requesting all changes
   adding changesets
   adding manifests
@@ -142,14 +142,14 @@
 
   $ hg paths
   default = ssh://user@dummy/remote
-  $ hg pull -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\""
+  $ hg pull
   pulling from ssh://user@dummy/remote
   searching for changes
   no changes found
 
 pull from wrong ssh URL
 
-  $ hg pull -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/doesnotexist
+  $ hg pull ssh://user@dummy/doesnotexist
   pulling from ssh://user@dummy/doesnotexist
   remote: abort: repository doesnotexist not found
   abort: no suitable response from remote hg
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
 
 find incoming on the remote side
 
-  $ hg incoming -R ../remote -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/local
+  $ hg incoming -R ../remote ssh://user@dummy/local
   comparing with ssh://user@dummy/local
   searching for changes
   changeset:   3:a28a9d1a809c
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@
 
 find incoming on the remote side (using absolute path)
 
-  $ hg incoming -R ../remote -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`"
+  $ hg incoming -R ../remote "ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`"
   comparing with ssh://user@dummy/$TESTTMP/local
   searching for changes
   changeset:   3:a28a9d1a809c
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@
 test pushkeys and bookmarks
 
   $ cd $TESTTMP/local
-  $ hg debugpushkey --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote namespaces
+  $ hg debugpushkey ssh://user@dummy/remote namespaces
   bookmarks	
   namespaces	
   phases	
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@
   no changes found
   exporting bookmark foo
   [1]
-  $ hg debugpushkey --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote bookmarks
+  $ hg debugpushkey ssh://user@dummy/remote bookmarks
   foo	1160648e36cec0054048a7edc4110c6f84fde594
   $ hg book -f foo
   $ hg push --traceback
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@
   $ hg -R ../remote bookmark test
   $ hg -R ../remote bookmarks
    * test                      4:6c0482d977a3
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote local-bookmarks
+  $ hg clone ssh://user@dummy/remote local-bookmarks
   requesting all changes
   adding changesets
   adding manifests
@@ -356,21 +356,21 @@
 
 Test remote paths with spaces (issue2983):
 
-  $ hg init --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
+  $ hg init "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
   $ touch "$TESTTMP/a repo/test"
   $ hg -R 'a repo' commit -A -m "test"
   adding test
   $ hg -R 'a repo' tag tag
-  $ hg id --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
+  $ hg id "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
   73649e48688a
 
-  $ hg id --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/a repo#noNoNO"
+  $ hg id "ssh://user@dummy/a repo#noNoNO"
   abort: unknown revision 'noNoNO'
   [255]
 
 Test (non-)escaping of remote paths with spaces when cloning (issue3145):
 
-  $ hg clone --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
+  $ hg clone "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
   destination directory: a repo
   abort: destination 'a repo' is not empty
   [10]
@@ -463,7 +463,6 @@
   > [paths]
   > default-push = ssh://user@dummy/remote
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [extensions]
   > localwrite = localwrite.py
   > EOF
@@ -583,11 +582,11 @@
 
   $ echo "pretxnchangegroup.fail = python:$TESTTMP/failhook:hook" >> remote/.hg/hgrc
 
-  $ hg -q --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" clone ssh://user@dummy/remote hookout
+  $ hg -q clone ssh://user@dummy/remote hookout
   $ cd hookout
   $ touch hookfailure
   $ hg -q commit -A -m 'remote hook failure'
-  $ hg --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" push
+  $ hg push
   pushing to ssh://user@dummy/remote
   searching for changes
   remote: adding changesets
@@ -607,7 +606,7 @@
   > [extensions]
   > crash = ${TESTDIR}/crashgetbundler.py
   > EOF
-  $ hg --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" pull
+  $ hg pull
   pulling from ssh://user@dummy/remote
   searching for changes
   adding changesets
diff --git a/tests/test-ssh-proto.t b/tests/test-ssh-proto.t
--- a/tests/test-ssh-proto.t
+++ b/tests/test-ssh-proto.t
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@
 
   $ cat >> $HGRCPATH << EOF
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [devel]
   > debug.peer-request = true
   > [extensions]
diff --git a/tests/test-ssh-repoerror.t b/tests/test-ssh-repoerror.t
--- a/tests/test-ssh-repoerror.t
+++ b/tests/test-ssh-repoerror.t
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@
 
   $ cat << EOF >> $HGRCPATH
   > [ui]
-  > ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > EOF
 
 repository itself is non-readable
diff --git a/tests/test-ssh.t b/tests/test-ssh.t
--- a/tests/test-ssh.t
+++ b/tests/test-ssh.t
@@ -42,18 +42,18 @@
 
 repo not found error
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/nonexistent local
+  $ hg clone ssh://user@dummy/nonexistent local
   remote: abort: repository nonexistent not found
   abort: no suitable response from remote hg
   [255]
-  $ hg clone -q -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/nonexistent local
+  $ hg clone -q ssh://user@dummy/nonexistent local
   remote: abort: repository nonexistent not found
   abort: no suitable response from remote hg
   [255]
 
 non-existent absolute path
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`/nonexistent local
+  $ hg clone ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`/nonexistent local
   remote: abort: repository $TESTTMP/nonexistent not found
   abort: no suitable response from remote hg
   [255]
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
 
 #if no-reposimplestore
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" --stream ssh://user@dummy/remote local-stream
+  $ hg clone --stream ssh://user@dummy/remote local-stream
   streaming all changes
   8 files to transfer, 827 bytes of data (no-zstd !)
   transferred 827 bytes in * seconds (*) (glob) (no-zstd !)
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
 clone bookmarks via stream
 
   $ hg -R local-stream book mybook
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" --stream ssh://user@dummy/local-stream stream2
+  $ hg clone --stream ssh://user@dummy/local-stream stream2
   streaming all changes
   15 files to transfer, * of data (glob)
   transferred * in * seconds (*) (glob)
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
 
 clone remote via pull
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote local
+  $ hg clone ssh://user@dummy/remote local
   requesting all changes
   adding changesets
   adding manifests
@@ -128,14 +128,14 @@
 
   $ hg paths
   default = ssh://user@dummy/remote
-  $ hg pull -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\""
+  $ hg pull
   pulling from ssh://user@dummy/remote
   searching for changes
   no changes found
 
 pull from wrong ssh URL
 
-  $ hg pull -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/doesnotexist
+  $ hg pull ssh://user@dummy/doesnotexist
   pulling from ssh://user@dummy/doesnotexist
   remote: abort: repository doesnotexist not found
   abort: no suitable response from remote hg
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@
 
 find incoming on the remote side
 
-  $ hg incoming -R ../remote -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/local
+  $ hg incoming -R ../remote ssh://user@dummy/local
   comparing with ssh://user@dummy/local
   searching for changes
   changeset:   3:a28a9d1a809c
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@
 
 find incoming on the remote side (using absolute path)
 
-  $ hg incoming -R ../remote -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`"
+  $ hg incoming -R ../remote "ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`"
   comparing with ssh://user@dummy/$TESTTMP/local
   searching for changes
   changeset:   3:a28a9d1a809c
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@
 test pushkeys and bookmarks
 
   $ cd $TESTTMP/local
-  $ hg debugpushkey --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote namespaces
+  $ hg debugpushkey ssh://user@dummy/remote namespaces
   bookmarks	
   namespaces	
   phases	
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@
   no changes found
   exporting bookmark foo
   [1]
-  $ hg debugpushkey --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote bookmarks
+  $ hg debugpushkey ssh://user@dummy/remote bookmarks
   foo	1160648e36cec0054048a7edc4110c6f84fde594
   $ hg book -f foo
   $ hg push --traceback
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@
   $ hg -R ../remote bookmark test
   $ hg -R ../remote bookmarks
    * test                      4:6c0482d977a3
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/remote local-bookmarks
+  $ hg clone ssh://user@dummy/remote local-bookmarks
   requesting all changes
   adding changesets
   adding manifests
@@ -375,21 +375,21 @@
 
 Test remote paths with spaces (issue2983):
 
-  $ hg init --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
+  $ hg init "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
   $ touch "$TESTTMP/a repo/test"
   $ hg -R 'a repo' commit -A -m "test"
   adding test
   $ hg -R 'a repo' tag tag
-  $ hg id --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
+  $ hg id "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
   73649e48688a
 
-  $ hg id --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/a repo#noNoNO"
+  $ hg id "ssh://user@dummy/a repo#noNoNO"
   abort: unknown revision 'noNoNO'
   [255]
 
 Test (non-)escaping of remote paths with spaces when cloning (issue3145):
 
-  $ hg clone --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
+  $ hg clone "ssh://user@dummy/a repo"
   destination directory: a repo
   abort: destination 'a repo' is not empty
   [10]
@@ -516,7 +516,6 @@
   > [paths]
   > default-push = ssh://user@dummy/remote
   > [ui]
-  > ssh = "$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > [extensions]
   > localwrite = localwrite.py
   > EOF
@@ -670,11 +669,11 @@
 
   $ echo "pretxnchangegroup.fail = python:$TESTTMP/failhook:hook" >> remote/.hg/hgrc
 
-  $ hg -q --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" clone ssh://user@dummy/remote hookout
+  $ hg -q clone ssh://user@dummy/remote hookout
   $ cd hookout
   $ touch hookfailure
   $ hg -q commit -A -m 'remote hook failure'
-  $ hg --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" push
+  $ hg push
   pushing to ssh://user@dummy/remote
   searching for changes
   remote: adding changesets
@@ -695,7 +694,7 @@
   > [extensions]
   > crash = ${TESTDIR}/crashgetbundler.py
   > EOF
-  $ hg --config ui.ssh="\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" pull
+  $ hg pull
   pulling from ssh://user@dummy/remote
   searching for changes
   remote: abort: this is an exercise
@@ -704,14 +703,14 @@
 
 abort with no error hint when there is a ssh problem when pulling
 
-  $ hg pull ssh://brokenrepository -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\""
+  $ hg pull ssh://brokenrepository
   pulling from ssh://brokenrepository/
   abort: no suitable response from remote hg
   [255]
 
 abort with configured error hint when there is a ssh problem when pulling
 
-  $ hg pull ssh://brokenrepository -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" \
+  $ hg pull ssh://brokenrepository \
   > --config ui.ssherrorhint="Please see http://company/internalwiki/ssh.html"
   pulling from ssh://brokenrepository/
   abort: no suitable response from remote hg
diff --git a/tests/test-stream-bundle-v2.t b/tests/test-stream-bundle-v2.t
--- a/tests/test-stream-bundle-v2.t
+++ b/tests/test-stream-bundle-v2.t
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
   > evolution.exchange=True
   > bundle2-output-capture=True
   > [ui]
-  > ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > logtemplate={rev}:{node|short} {phase} {author} {bookmarks} {desc|firstline}
   > [web]
   > push_ssl = false
diff --git a/tests/test-subrepo-relative-path.t b/tests/test-subrepo-relative-path.t
--- a/tests/test-subrepo-relative-path.t
+++ b/tests/test-subrepo-relative-path.t
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@
 
 subrepo paths with ssh urls
 
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/cloned sshclone
+  $ hg clone ssh://user@dummy/cloned sshclone
   requesting all changes
   adding changesets
   adding manifests
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@
   new changesets 863c1745b441
   3 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
 
-  $ hg -R sshclone push -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`/cloned
+  $ hg -R sshclone push ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`/cloned
   pushing to ssh://user@dummy/$TESTTMP/cloned
   pushing subrepo sub to ssh://user@dummy/$TESTTMP/sub
   searching for changes
diff --git a/tests/test-transaction-rollback-on-sigpipe.t b/tests/test-transaction-rollback-on-sigpipe.t
--- a/tests/test-transaction-rollback-on-sigpipe.t
+++ b/tests/test-transaction-rollback-on-sigpipe.t
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 the remote hg is able to successfully roll back the transaction.
 
   $ hg init -q remote
-  $ hg clone -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$RUNTESTDIR/dummyssh\"" -q ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`/remote local
+  $ hg clone -q ssh://user@dummy/`pwd`/remote local
   $ SIGPIPE_REMOTE_DEBUG_FILE="$TESTTMP/DEBUGFILE"
   $ SYNCFILE1="$TESTTMP/SYNCFILE1"
   $ SYNCFILE2="$TESTTMP/SYNCFILE2"
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 
 (use quiet to avoid flacky output from the server)
 
-  $ hg push --quiet -e "\"$PYTHON\" \"$TESTDIR/dummyssh\"" --remotecmd "$remotecmd"
+  $ hg push --quiet --remotecmd "$remotecmd"
   abort: stream ended unexpectedly (got 0 bytes, expected 4)
   [255]
   $ cat $SIGPIPE_REMOTE_DEBUG_FILE
diff --git a/tests/test-treemanifest.t b/tests/test-treemanifest.t
--- a/tests/test-treemanifest.t
+++ b/tests/test-treemanifest.t
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
   $ cat << EOF >> $HGRCPATH
   > [ui]
-  > ssh="$PYTHON" "$TESTDIR/dummyssh"
   > EOF
 
 Set up repo
diff --git a/tests/test-wireproto.t b/tests/test-wireproto.t
--- a/tests/test-wireproto.t
+++ b/tests/test-wireproto.t
@@ -142,13 +142,13 @@
 
 SSH (try to exercise the ssh functionality with a dummy script):
 
-  $ hg debugwireargs --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" ssh://user@dummy/repo uno due tre quattro
+  $ hg debugwireargs ssh://user@dummy/repo uno due tre quattro
   uno due tre quattro None
-  $ hg debugwireargs --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" ssh://user@dummy/repo eins zwei --four vier
+  $ hg debugwireargs ssh://user@dummy/repo eins zwei --four vier
   eins zwei None vier None
-  $ hg debugwireargs --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" ssh://user@dummy/repo eins zwei
+  $ hg debugwireargs ssh://user@dummy/repo eins zwei
   eins zwei None None None
-  $ hg debugwireargs --ssh "\"$PYTHON\" $TESTDIR/dummyssh" ssh://user@dummy/repo eins zwei --five fuenf
+  $ hg debugwireargs ssh://user@dummy/repo eins zwei --five fuenf
   eins zwei None None None
 
 Explicitly kill daemons to let the test exit on Windows