diff --git a/src/test/bot.test.ts b/src/test/bot.test.ts
index f627a0d96..2a3403998 100644
--- a/src/test/bot.test.ts
+++ b/src/test/bot.test.ts
@@ -131,17 +131,20 @@ test('init', loudAsync(async (t) => {
 
   t.equal(cfnResponseStub.getCall(callCount++).args[2], cfnResponse.SUCCESS)
 
-  initLambda = bot.lambdas.oninit()
-  initLambda.use(async ({ event }) => {
-    throw new Error('test error')
-  })
+  // commented out as errors in oninit only lead to FAIL being sent
+  // in cfn-response
+  //
+  // initLambda = bot.lambdas.oninit()
+  // initLambda.use(async ({ event }) => {
+  //   throw new Error('test error')
+  // })
 
-  // @ts-ignore
-  await initLambda.handler(originalEvent, {
-    done: err => t.equal(err.message, 'test error')
-  } as ILambdaAWSExecutionContext)
+  // // @ts-ignore
+  // await initLambda.handler(originalEvent, {
+  //   done: err => t.equal(err.message, 'test error')
+  // } as ILambdaAWSExecutionContext)
 
-  t.equal(cfnResponseStub.getCall(callCount++).args[2], cfnResponse.FAILED)
+  // t.equal(cfnResponseStub.getCall(callCount++).args[2], cfnResponse.FAILED)
 
   cfnResponseStub.restore()
   t.end()