diff --git a/kuma/tests/conftest.py b/kuma/tests/conftest.py
index e7f54ba7284fc..c23a158f9913a 100644
--- a/kuma/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/kuma/tests/conftest.py
@@ -2,82 +2,66 @@
 # All rights reserved
 # Licensed under a 3-clause BSD style license (see LICENSE)
 import os
-import time
-from contextlib import ExitStack
 
 import pytest
-import requests
 
 from datadog_checks.dev.kind import kind_run
-from datadog_checks.dev.kube_port_forward import port_forward
 from datadog_checks.dev.subprocess import run_command
 
+KUMA_NAMESPACE = 'kuma-system'
+KUMA_SERVICE = 'kuma-control-plane'
+KUMA_STARTUP_TIMEOUT = 600
+KUMA_METRICS_ENDPOINT = f'http://{KUMA_SERVICE}.{KUMA_NAMESPACE}.svc.cluster.local:5680/metrics'
+
 
 def setup_kuma():
-    kuma_version = os.environ.get("KUMA_VERSION", "2.10.6")
-    run_command(["kubectl", "create", "namespace", "kuma-system"])
-    run_command(["helm", "repo", "add", "kuma", "https://kumahq.github.io/charts"])
-    run_command(["helm", "repo", "update"])
+    kuma_version = os.environ.get('KUMA_VERSION', '2.10.6')
+    run_command(['kubectl', 'create', 'namespace', KUMA_NAMESPACE], check=True)
+    run_command(['helm', 'repo', 'add', 'kuma', 'https://kumahq.github.io/charts'], check=True)
+    run_command(['helm', 'repo', 'update'], check=True)
     run_command(
         [
-            "helm",
-            "upgrade",
-            "--install",
-            "kuma",
-            "kuma/kuma",
-            "--version",
+            'helm',
+            'upgrade',
+            '--install',
+            'kuma',
+            'kuma/kuma',
+            '--version',
             kuma_version,
-            "--create-namespace",
-            "-n",
-            "kuma-system",
-        ]
+            '--create-namespace',
+            '-n',
+            KUMA_NAMESPACE,
+        ],
+        check=True,
     )
     run_command(
-        ["kubectl", "rollout", "status", "deployment/kuma-control-plane", "-n", "kuma-system", "--timeout=180s"]
+        [
+            'kubectl',
+            'rollout',
+            'status',
+            f'deployment/{KUMA_SERVICE}',
+            '-n',
+            KUMA_NAMESPACE,
+            # The Kuma deployment's readiness probe checks its in-cluster /ready endpoint.
+            f'--timeout={KUMA_STARTUP_TIMEOUT}s',
+        ],
+        check=True,
     )
 
 
-def wait_for_kuma_readiness(api_url, api_port, max_wait=600):
-    """Wait for Kuma control plane to be ready by querying the /config endpoint."""
-    config_url = f'http://{api_url}:{api_port}/config'
-    start_time = time.monotonic()
-
-    while time.monotonic() - start_time < max_wait:
-        try:
-            response = requests.get(config_url, timeout=5)
-            if response.ok:
-                print(f"Kuma control plane is ready at {config_url} (took {time.monotonic() - start_time} seconds)")
-                return
-        except (requests.exceptions.RequestException, requests.exceptions.Timeout):
-            pass
-
-        print(f"Waiting for Kuma control plane to be ready at {config_url}...")
-        time.sleep(0.5)
-
-    raise TimeoutError(f"Kuma control plane did not become ready within {max_wait} seconds")
-
-
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session')
 def dd_environment(dd_save_state):
     with kind_run(conditions=[setup_kuma]) as kubeconfig:
-        with ExitStack() as stack:
-            kuma_metrics_url, kuma_metrics_port = stack.enter_context(
-                port_forward(kubeconfig, 'kuma-system', 5680, 'service', 'kuma-control-plane')
-            )
-            kuma_api_url, kuma_api_port = stack.enter_context(
-                port_forward(kubeconfig, 'kuma-system', 5681, 'service', 'kuma-control-plane')
-            )
-
-            # Wait for Kuma control plane to be ready
-            wait_for_kuma_readiness(kuma_api_url, kuma_api_port)
-
-            metrics_endpoint = f'http://{kuma_metrics_url}:{kuma_metrics_port}/metrics'
-
-            env_instance = {'openmetrics_endpoint': metrics_endpoint}
-
-            dd_save_state("kuma_instance", env_instance)
-
-            yield env_instance
+        instance = {'openmetrics_endpoint': KUMA_METRICS_ENDPOINT}
+        metadata = {
+            'agent_type': 'kubernetes',
+            'kubernetes': {
+                'kubeconfig': kubeconfig,
+            },
+        }
+
+        dd_save_state('kuma_instance', instance)
+        yield instance, metadata
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session')