diff --git a/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/gold/adjoint.e b/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/gold/adjoint.e
index a88c913e874b..bce5ad5f7800 100644
Binary files a/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/gold/adjoint.e and b/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/gold/adjoint.e differ
diff --git a/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/main.i b/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/main.i
index d98d53c8b172..4c915753d482 100644
--- a/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/main.i
+++ b/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/main.i
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
   type = Optimize
   tao_solver = taoblmvm
   petsc_options_iname = '-tao_gatol'
-  petsc_options_value = '0.0001'
+  petsc_options_value = '1e-4'
   verbose = true
 []
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
   []
   [adjoint]
     type = FullSolveMultiApp
-    input_files = adjoint.i
+    input_files = adjoint_iteration_output.i
     execute_on = "ADJOINT"
     clone_parent_mesh = true
   []
diff --git a/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/main_auto_adjoint.i b/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/main_auto_adjoint.i
index 8f556761e342..efa2eb2d4d1e 100644
--- a/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/main_auto_adjoint.i
+++ b/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/main_auto_adjoint.i
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
 [MultiApps]
   [forward]
     type = FullSolveMultiApp
-    input_files = forward_and_adjoint.i
+    input_files = forward_and_adjoint_iteration_output.i
     execute_on = "FORWARD"
   []
 []
diff --git a/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/tests b/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/tests
index fe942f53c6d7..be92210b013a 100644
--- a/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/tests
+++ b/modules/optimization/test/tests/outputs/exodus_optimization_steady/tests
@@ -11,17 +11,13 @@
     abs_zero = 1.0e-5
     # steady solve
     recover = false
-    issues = '#25009'
-    design = 'ExodusOptimizationSteady.md'
-    cli_args = "MultiApps/adjoint/input_files='adjoint_iteration_output.i'"
     requirement = 'The system shall be able to perform gradient based material parameter inversion '
-                  'for a single material property and output the iteration-wise output for the '
+                  'for a single material property and output the iteration-wise exodus output for the '
                   'adjoint problem.'
   []
   [auto_adjoint_iteration_output]
     type = Exodiff
     input = main_auto_adjoint.i
-    cli_args = 'MultiApps/forward/input_files=forward_and_adjoint_iteration_output.i'
     exodiff = 'main_auto_adjoint_out_forward0_exodus.e'
     # Optimize executioner does not support multiple threads
     max_threads = 1
@@ -29,6 +25,6 @@
     recover = false
     requirement = 'The system shall be able to invert for point loads using gradient-based '
                   'optimization with an automatically computed adjoint and output the exodus output '
-                  'per iteration.'
+                  'per iteration for the combined forward and adjoint problem variables.'
   []
 []