diff --git a/src/tests/ftest/control/config_generate_run.py b/src/tests/ftest/control/config_generate_run.py
index 98b57b64f00..efaa992df31 100644
--- a/src/tests/ftest/control/config_generate_run.py
+++ b/src/tests/ftest/control/config_generate_run.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
   SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause-Patent
 '''
 
+import os
+
 import yaml
 from apricot import TestWithServers
 from server_utils import ServerFailed
@@ -45,16 +47,16 @@ def test_config_generate_run(self):
 
         # use_tmpfs_scm specifies that a MD-on-SSD conf should be generated and control metadata
         # path needs to be set in that case.
-        ext_md_path = ""
+        control_metadata = None
         if use_tmpfs_scm:
-            ext_md_path = self.test_env.log_dir
+            control_metadata = os.path.join(self.test_env.log_dir, 'control_metadata')
 
         # Call dmg config generate. AP is always the first server host.
         server_host = self.hostlist_servers[0]
         result = self.get_dmg_command().config_generate(
             access_points=server_host, num_engines=num_engines, scm_only=scm_only,
             net_class=net_class, net_provider=net_provider, use_tmpfs_scm=use_tmpfs_scm,
-            control_metadata_path=ext_md_path)
+            control_metadata_path=control_metadata)
 
         try:
             generated_yaml = yaml.safe_load(result.stdout)
@@ -70,7 +72,7 @@ def test_config_generate_run(self):
         # Create a new server config from generated_yaml and update SCM-related
         # data in engine_params so that the cleanup before the server start
         # works.
-        self.log.info("Copy config to /etc/daos and update engine_params")
+        self.log.info("Copy config to %s and update engine_params", self.test_env.server_config)
         self.server_managers[0].update_config_file_from_file(generated_yaml)
 
         # Start server with the generated config.
diff --git a/src/tests/ftest/harness/config.yaml b/src/tests/ftest/harness/config.yaml
index a9c19625b3e..be19a641812 100644
--- a/src/tests/ftest/harness/config.yaml
+++ b/src/tests/ftest/harness/config.yaml
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ server_config:
   engines_per_host: 1
   engines:
     0:
+      targets: 4
+      nr_xs_helpers: 0
       storage:
         0:
           class: ram
diff --git a/src/tests/ftest/util/dmg_utils_base.py b/src/tests/ftest/util/dmg_utils_base.py
index 31ba1b50f33..a601b590033 100644
--- a/src/tests/ftest/util/dmg_utils_base.py
+++ b/src/tests/ftest/util/dmg_utils_base.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from ClusterShell.NodeSet import NodeSet
 from command_utils import CommandWithSubCommand, YamlCommand
 from command_utils_base import BasicParameter, CommandWithParameters, FormattedParameter
+from environment_utils import TestEnvironment
 from general_utils import nodeset_append_suffix
 
 
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ def __init__(self, path, yaml_cfg=None, hostlist_suffix=None):
         self.temporary_file_hosts = NodeSet(gethostname().split(".")[0])
 
         # If specified use the configuration file from the YamlParameters object
-        default_yaml_file = None
+        default_yaml_file = TestEnvironment().control_config
         if self.yaml is not None and hasattr(self.yaml, "filename"):
             default_yaml_file = self.yaml.filename