diff --git a/tensorflow_federated/python/core/environments/tensorflow_backend/tensorflow_executor_bindings_test.py b/tensorflow_federated/python/core/environments/tensorflow_backend/tensorflow_executor_bindings_test.py
index 81787e8afe..609ffc5078 100644
--- a/tensorflow_federated/python/core/environments/tensorflow_backend/tensorflow_executor_bindings_test.py
+++ b/tensorflow_federated/python/core/environments/tensorflow_backend/tensorflow_executor_bindings_test.py
@@ -94,10 +94,11 @@ def test_create_value(self):
         ('a', computation_types.TensorType(np.int64, [3])),
         ('b', computation_types.TensorType(np.float32, [])),
     ])
-    value_pb, _ = value_serialization.serialize_value(
-        collections.OrderedDict(a=tf.constant([1, 2, 3]), b=tf.constant(42.0)),
-        expected_type_spec,
+    value = collections.OrderedDict(
+        a=np.array([1, 2, 3], np.int64),
+        b=np.array(42.0, np.float32),
     )
+    value_pb, _ = value_serialization.serialize_value(value, expected_type_spec)
     value = executor.create_value(value_pb)
     self.assertIsInstance(value, executor_bindings.OwnedValueId)
     # Assert the value ID was incremented.
@@ -226,7 +227,7 @@ def test_create_struct(self):
     executor = get_executor()
     expected_type_spec = computation_types.TensorType(np.int64, [3])
     value_pb, _ = value_serialization.serialize_value(
-        tf.constant([1, 2, 3]), expected_type_spec
+        np.array([1, 2, 3], np.int64), expected_type_spec
     )
     value = executor.create_value(value_pb)
     self.assertEqual(value.ref, 0)
@@ -264,7 +265,7 @@ def test_create_selection(self):
     executor = get_executor()
     expected_type_spec = computation_types.TensorType(np.int64, [3])
     value_pb, _ = value_serialization.serialize_value(
-        tf.constant([1, 2, 3]), expected_type_spec
+        np.array([1, 2, 3], np.int64), expected_type_spec
     )
     value = executor.create_value(value_pb)
     self.assertEqual(value.ref, 0)
@@ -298,7 +299,7 @@ def test_create_selection(self):
   def test_call_with_arg(self):
     executor = get_executor()
     value_pb, _ = value_serialization.serialize_value(
-        tf.constant([1, 2, 3]),
+        np.array([1, 2, 3], np.int64),
         computation_types.TensorType(np.int64, [3]),
     )
     value_ref = executor.create_value(value_pb)
diff --git a/tensorflow_federated/python/tests/backend_test.py b/tensorflow_federated/python/tests/backend_test.py
index 22bd0e0959..244799ffa4 100644
--- a/tensorflow_federated/python/tests/backend_test.py
+++ b/tensorflow_federated/python/tests/backend_test.py
@@ -314,8 +314,8 @@ def map_foo_at_clients(x):
     def map_foo_at_server(x):
       return tff.federated_map(foo, x)
 
-    bad_tensor = tf.constant([1.0] * 10, dtype=tf.float32)
-    good_tensor = tf.constant([1.0], dtype=tf.float32)
+    bad_tensor = np.array([1.0] * 10, dtype=np.float32)
+    good_tensor = np.array([1.0], dtype=np.float32)
     # Ensure running this computation at both placements, or unplaced, still
     # raises.
     with self.assertRaises(Exception):
@@ -405,7 +405,12 @@ def count_one_twice():
 
     self.assertEqual((1, 1, 1), count_one_twice())
 
-  @tff.test.with_contexts(*test_contexts.get_all_contexts())
+  @tff.test.with_contexts(
+      (
+          'native_sync_local',
+          tff.backends.native.create_sync_local_cpp_execution_context,
+      ),
+  )
   def test_dynamic_lookup_table(self):
 
     @tff.tensorflow.computation(