diff --git a/benchmark-e2e/src/main/resources/collector-config.yml b/benchmark-e2e/src/main/resources/collector-config.yml
index 8fe4becd60..9a580c6c53 100644
--- a/benchmark-e2e/src/main/resources/collector-config.yml
+++ b/benchmark-e2e/src/main/resources/collector-config.yml
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@ exporters:
 
 processors:
   batch:
-  queued_retry:
 
 extensions:
   health_check:
diff --git a/examples/distro/smoke-tests/src/test/resources/otel.yaml b/examples/distro/smoke-tests/src/test/resources/otel.yaml
index 3d1bbf0e58..a25201f896 100644
--- a/examples/distro/smoke-tests/src/test/resources/otel.yaml
+++ b/examples/distro/smoke-tests/src/test/resources/otel.yaml
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ receivers:
 
 processors:
   batch:
-  queued_retry:
 
 exporters:
   logging:
@@ -26,7 +25,7 @@ service:
   pipelines:
     traces:
       receivers: [otlp, zipkin]
-      processors: [batch, queued_retry]
+      processors: [batch]
       exporters: [logging, otlp]
 
   extensions: [health_check, pprof, zpages]
diff --git a/smoke-tests/src/test/groovy/io/opentelemetry/smoketest/SmokeTest.groovy b/smoke-tests/src/test/groovy/io/opentelemetry/smoketest/SmokeTest.groovy
index 4a0616cefd..81fe5864ec 100644
--- a/smoke-tests/src/test/groovy/io/opentelemetry/smoketest/SmokeTest.groovy
+++ b/smoke-tests/src/test/groovy/io/opentelemetry/smoketest/SmokeTest.groovy
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import org.testcontainers.containers.output.Slf4jLogConsumer
 import org.testcontainers.containers.output.ToStringConsumer
 import org.testcontainers.containers.wait.strategy.Wait
 import org.testcontainers.containers.wait.strategy.WaitStrategy
+import org.testcontainers.images.PullPolicy
 import org.testcontainers.utility.MountableFile
 import spock.lang.Shared
 import spock.lang.Specification
@@ -73,6 +74,7 @@ abstract class SmokeTest extends Specification {
       .waitingFor(Wait.forHttp("/health").forPort(8080))
       .withNetwork(network)
       .withNetworkAliases("backend")
+      .withImagePullPolicy(PullPolicy.alwaysPull())
       .withLogConsumer(new Slf4jLogConsumer(logger))
     backend.start()
 
@@ -81,6 +83,7 @@ abstract class SmokeTest extends Specification {
       .withNetwork(network)
       .withNetworkAliases("collector")
       .withLogConsumer(new Slf4jLogConsumer(logger))
+      .withImagePullPolicy(PullPolicy.alwaysPull())
       .withCopyFileToContainer(MountableFile.forClasspathResource("/otel.yaml"), "/etc/otel.yaml")
       .withCommand("--config /etc/otel.yaml")
     collector.start()
@@ -103,6 +106,7 @@ abstract class SmokeTest extends Specification {
       .withEnv("OTEL_BSP_SCHEDULE_DELAY_MILLIS", "10")
       .withEnv("OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_ENDPOINT", "collector:55680")
       .withEnv("OTEL_EXPORTER_OTLP_INSECURE", "true")
+      .withImagePullPolicy(PullPolicy.alwaysPull())
       .withEnv(extraEnv)
     customizeContainer(target)
 
diff --git a/smoke-tests/src/test/resources/otel.yaml b/smoke-tests/src/test/resources/otel.yaml
index 95f02f9dba..8d38db49a8 100644
--- a/smoke-tests/src/test/resources/otel.yaml
+++ b/smoke-tests/src/test/resources/otel.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ receivers:
 
 processors:
   batch:
-  queued_retry:
 
 exporters:
   logging:
@@ -29,7 +28,7 @@ service:
   pipelines:
     traces:
       receivers: [otlp, zipkin, jaeger]
-      processors: [batch, queued_retry]
+      processors: [batch]
       exporters: [logging, otlp]
 
   extensions: [health_check, pprof, zpages]