diff --git a/workflow/controller/operator_test.go b/workflow/controller/operator_test.go
index ed5abc1a6978..0f439f3a9a4d 100644
--- a/workflow/controller/operator_test.go
+++ b/workflow/controller/operator_test.go
@@ -2260,7 +2260,7 @@ func TestExpandWithItems(t *testing.T) {
 	wf, err := wfcset.Create(ctx, wf, metav1.CreateOptions{})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	woc := newWorkflowOperationCtx(wf, controller)
-	newSteps, err := woc.expandStep(wf.Spec.Templates[0].Steps[0].Steps[0])
+	newSteps, err := woc.expandStepLazy(wf.Spec.Templates[0].Steps[0].Steps[0], true)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 5, len(newSteps))
 	woc.operate(ctx)
@@ -2269,6 +2269,26 @@ func TestExpandWithItems(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, 5, len(pods.Items))
 }
 
+func TestNoMustExpandWithItems(t *testing.T) {
+	cancel, controller := newController()
+	defer cancel()
+	wfcset := controller.wfclientset.ArgoprojV1alpha1().Workflows("")
+
+	// Test list expansion
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	wf := wfv1.MustUnmarshalWorkflow(expandWithItems)
+	wf, err := wfcset.Create(ctx, wf, metav1.CreateOptions{})
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	woc := newWorkflowOperationCtx(wf, controller)
+	newSteps, err := woc.expandStepLazy(wf.Spec.Templates[0].Steps[0].Steps[0], false)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, len(newSteps))
+	woc.operate(ctx)
+	pods, err := listPods(woc)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, len(pods.Items))
+}
+
 var expandWithItemsMap = `
 apiVersion: argoproj.io/v1alpha1
 kind: Workflow
@@ -2310,7 +2330,7 @@ func TestExpandWithItemsMap(t *testing.T) {
 	wf, err := wfcset.Create(ctx, wf, metav1.CreateOptions{})
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	woc := newWorkflowOperationCtx(wf, controller)
-	newSteps, err := woc.expandStep(wf.Spec.Templates[0].Steps[0].Steps[0])
+	newSteps, err := woc.expandStepLazy(wf.Spec.Templates[0].Steps[0].Steps[0], true)
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, 3, len(newSteps))
 	assert.Equal(t, "debian 9.1 JSON({\"os\":\"debian\",\"version\":9.1})", newSteps[0].Arguments.Parameters[0].Value.String())