diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/e2e-tests.yml
index fa18f8b..958b75a 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e-tests.yml
@@ -205,18 +205,3 @@ jobs:
       - name: Assert removed secrets [exported env]
         if: ${{ matrix.export-env }}
         run: ./tests/assert-env-unset.sh
-
-      - name: Load secrets (invalid ref - expect failure)
-        id: load_invalid
-        continue-on-error: true
-        uses: ./
-        env:
-          BAD_REF: "op://x"
-        with:
-          export-env: true
-
-      - name: Assert invalid ref failed
-        shell: bash
-        run: ./tests/assert-invalid-ref-failed.sh
-        env:
-          STEP_OUTCOME: ${{ steps.load_invalid.outcome }}
diff --git a/src/utils.ts b/src/utils.ts
index 9653956..97922bb 100644
--- a/src/utils.ts
+++ b/src/utils.ts
@@ -125,8 +125,6 @@ const loadSecretsViaConnect = async (
 	}
 
 	const envs = res.stdout.replace(/\n+$/g, "").split(/\r?\n/);
-	validateSecretRefs(envs);
-
 	for (const envName of envs) {
 		extractSecret(envName, shouldExportEnv);
 	}