diff --git a/testsuite/kuadrant/policy/authorization/auth_policy.py b/testsuite/kuadrant/policy/authorization/auth_policy.py
index c394b7dd..88b739aa 100644
--- a/testsuite/kuadrant/policy/authorization/auth_policy.py
+++ b/testsuite/kuadrant/policy/authorization/auth_policy.py
@@ -55,15 +55,28 @@ def strategy(self, strategy: Strategy) -> None:
         if self.spec_section is None:
             raise TypeError("Strategy can only be set on defaults or overrides")
 
-        self.spec_section["strategy"] = strategy.value
+        if isinstance(self.spec_section, str):
+            # String marker - create the section now
+            section = self.model.spec.setdefault(self.spec_section, {})
+        else:
+            section = self.spec_section
+
+        section["strategy"] = strategy.value
         self.spec_section = None
 
     @property
     def auth_section(self):
+        """Returns the rules section for adding auth configuration"""
         if self.spec_section is None:
-            self.spec_section = self.model.spec
+            # Implicit mode - use model.spec directly
+            spec_section = self.model.spec
+        elif isinstance(self.spec_section, str):
+            # String marker ("defaults" or "overrides") - create the section now
+            spec_section = self.model.spec.setdefault(self.spec_section, {})
+        else:
+            # Already a dict (shouldn't happen with new code but keep for compatibility)
+            spec_section = self.spec_section
 
-        spec_section = self.spec_section
         self.spec_section = None
         return spec_section.setdefault("rules", {})
 
@@ -75,13 +88,17 @@ def responses(self) -> ResponseSection:
     @property
     def defaults(self):
         """Add new rule into the `defaults` AuthPolicy section"""
-        self.spec_section = self.model.spec.setdefault("defaults", {})
+        # Don't create the dict yet - only mark which section to use
+        # The dict will be created when auth_section is called
+        self.spec_section = "defaults"
         return self
 
     @property
     def overrides(self):
         """Add new rule into the `overrides` AuthPolicy section"""
-        self.spec_section = self.model.spec.setdefault("overrides", {})
+        # Don't create the dict yet - only mark which section to use
+        # The dict will be created when auth_section is called
+        self.spec_section = "overrides"
         return self
 
     @modify
diff --git a/testsuite/kuadrant/policy/rate_limit.py b/testsuite/kuadrant/policy/rate_limit.py
index 11d14f1f..fe465261 100644
--- a/testsuite/kuadrant/policy/rate_limit.py
+++ b/testsuite/kuadrant/policy/rate_limit.py
@@ -67,9 +67,16 @@ def add_limit(
             limit["counters"] = [asdict(rule) for rule in counters]
 
         if self.spec_section is None:
-            self.spec_section = self.model.spec
-
-        self.spec_section.setdefault("limits", {})[name] = limit
+            # Implicit mode - use model.spec directly
+            spec_section = self.model.spec
+        elif isinstance(self.spec_section, str):
+            # String marker ("defaults" or "overrides") - create the section now
+            spec_section = self.model.spec.setdefault(self.spec_section, {})
+        else:
+            # Already a dict (shouldn't happen with new code but keep for compatibility)
+            spec_section = self.spec_section
+
+        spec_section.setdefault("limits", {})[name] = limit
         self.spec_section = None
 
     @modify
@@ -78,19 +85,29 @@ def strategy(self, strategy: Strategy) -> None:
         if self.spec_section is None:
             raise TypeError("Strategy can only be set on defaults or overrides")
 
-        self.spec_section["strategy"] = strategy.value
+        if isinstance(self.spec_section, str):
+            # String marker - create the section now
+            section = self.model.spec.setdefault(self.spec_section, {})
+        else:
+            section = self.spec_section
+
+        section["strategy"] = strategy.value
         self.spec_section = None
 
     @property
     def defaults(self):
         """Add new rule into the `defaults` RateLimitPolicy section"""
-        self.spec_section = self.model.spec.setdefault("defaults", {})
+        # Don't create the dict yet - only mark which section to use
+        # The dict will be created when add_limit or strategy is called
+        self.spec_section = "defaults"
         return self
 
     @property
     def overrides(self):
         """Add new rule into the `overrides` RateLimitPolicy section"""
-        self.spec_section = self.model.spec.setdefault("overrides", {})
+        # Don't create the dict yet - only mark which section to use
+        # The dict will be created when add_limit or strategy is called
+        self.spec_section = "overrides"
         return self
 
     def wait_for_ready(self):