diff --git a/features/git-mob/bugs/41-gitmessage-accumulates-authors.feature b/features/git-mob/bugs/41-gitmessage-accumulates-authors.feature
index 0d48cc6..c44159d 100644
--- a/features/git-mob/bugs/41-gitmessage-accumulates-authors.feature
+++ b/features/git-mob/bugs/41-gitmessage-accumulates-authors.feature
@@ -35,19 +35,6 @@ Feature: 🐛 gitmessage accumulates authors over time
   Scenario: starting update ~/.gitmessage but does not configure commit.template
     Given I cd to "example"
     And I run `git mob ad`
-    And the file "~/.gitmessage" should contain:
-      """
-
-      Co-authored-by: Amy Doe <amy@findmypast.com>
-      """
+    And the file "~/.gitmessage" should not contain "Co-authored-by"
     When I successfully run `git mob bd`
-    Then the file "~/.gitmessage" should contain:
-      """
-
-      Co-authored-by: Bob Doe <bob@findmypast.com>
-      """
-    And the file "~/.gitmessage" should not contain:
-      """
-
-      Co-authored-by: Amy Doe <amy@findmypast.com>
-      """
+    And the file "~/.gitmessage" should not contain "Co-authored-by"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/features/git-mob/bugs/89-co-authors-not-cleared-from-message-template-when-returning-to-git-solo.feature b/features/git-mob/bugs/89-co-authors-not-cleared-from-message-template-when-returning-to-git-solo.feature
index 276fcaa..5737b3e 100644
--- a/features/git-mob/bugs/89-co-authors-not-cleared-from-message-template-when-returning-to-git-solo.feature
+++ b/features/git-mob/bugs/89-co-authors-not-cleared-from-message-template-when-returning-to-git-solo.feature
@@ -29,10 +29,6 @@ Feature: 🐛 co-authors not cleared from message template when returning to git
 
   Scenario: 
     Given I successfully run `git mob ad`
-    And the file "~/.gitmessage" should contain:
-      """
-
-      Co-authored-by: Amy Doe <amy@findmypast.com>
-      """
+    And the file "~/.gitmessage" should not contain "Co-authored-by"
     When I successfully run `git solo`
     And the file "~/.gitmessage" should not contain "Co-authored-by"
diff --git a/features/git-mob/message.feature b/features/git-mob/message.feature
index c71516f..5d9ed9e 100644
--- a/features/git-mob/message.feature
+++ b/features/git-mob/message.feature
@@ -40,11 +40,7 @@ Feature: message
       Jane Doe <jane@example.com>
       Amy Doe <amy@findmypast.com>
       """
-    And the file "~/.gitmessage" should contain:
-      """
-
-      Co-authored-by: Amy Doe <amy@findmypast.com>
-      """
+    And the file "~/.gitmessage" should not contain "Co-authored-by:"
     And the file ".git/config" should not contain:
       """
       template = ~/.gitmessage
diff --git a/features/git-mob/parity/git-mob.feature b/features/git-mob/parity/git-mob.feature
index 546d755..cd022c0 100644
--- a/features/git-mob/parity/git-mob.feature
+++ b/features/git-mob/parity/git-mob.feature
@@ -132,16 +132,9 @@ Feature: git-mob.spec
       Jane Doe <jane@example.com>
       Bob Doe <bob@example.com>
       """
-    And a file named "~/.gitmessage" should contain:
-      """
-      A commit title
-
-      A commit body that goes into more detail.
+    And a file named "~/.gitmessage" should not contain "Co-authored-by:"
 
-      Co-authored-by: Bob Doe <bob@example.com>
-      """
-
-  Scenario: appends co-authors to an existing commit template
+  Scenario: does not append co-authors to an existing commit template
     Given a simple git repo at "example"
     And I cd to "example"
     And a file named "~/.gitmessage" with:
@@ -151,27 +144,14 @@ Feature: git-mob.spec
       A commit body that goes into more detail.
       """
     When I successfully run `git mob ad bd`
-    And a file named "~/.gitmessage" should contain:
-      """
-      A commit title
+    And a file named "~/.gitmessage" should not contain "Co-authored-by:"
 
-      A commit body that goes into more detail.
-
-      Co-authored-by: Amy Doe <amy@example.com>
-      Co-authored-by: Bob Doe <bob@example.com>
-      """
-
-  Scenario: appends co-authors to a new commit template
+  Scenario: does not append co-authors to a new commit template
     Given a simple git repo at "example"
     And I cd to "example"
     And a file named "~/.gitmessage" does not exist
     When I successfully run `git mob ad bd`
-    And a file named "~/.gitmessage" should contain:
-      """
-
-      Co-authored-by: Amy Doe <amy@example.com>
-      Co-authored-by: Bob Doe <bob@example.com>
-      """
+    And a file named "~/.gitmessage" should not exist
 
   @pending
   # allow running some mob commands outside a working tree