diff --git a/.github/workflows/minimal.yml b/.github/workflows/minimal.yml
index 0ce211cbde..90c9a59585 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/minimal.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/minimal.yml
@@ -26,3 +26,10 @@ jobs:
         conda activate minimal
         python -m pip install .
         pytest -svx
+    - name: Fixture generation
+      shell: "bash -l {0}"
+      run: |
+        conda activate minimal
+        rm -rf fixture/
+        pytest -svx zarr/tests/test_dim_separator.py zarr/tests/test_storage.py
+        # This simulates fixture-less tests in conda and debian packaging
diff --git a/zarr/tests/test_dim_separator.py b/zarr/tests/test_dim_separator.py
index 5e17bbe279..f439a4bd0c 100644
--- a/zarr/tests/test_dim_separator.py
+++ b/zarr/tests/test_dim_separator.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 import pytest
 from numpy.testing import assert_array_equal
+from functools import partial
 
 import zarr
 from zarr.core import Array
@@ -43,9 +44,16 @@ def dataset(tmpdir, request):
         if not static.exists():  # pragma: no cover
 
             if "nested" in which:
+                # No way to reproduce the nested_legacy file via code
                 generator = NestedDirectoryStore
             else:
-                generator = DirectoryStore
+                if "legacy" in suffix:
+                    # No dimension_separator metadata included
+                    generator = DirectoryStore
+                else:
+                    # Explicit dimension_separator metadata included
+                    generator = partial(DirectoryStore,
+                                        dimension_separator=".")
 
             # store the data - should be one-time operation
             s = generator(str(static))