diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose_actions.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose_actions.js
index bc12baca94..c80e7595f9 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose_actions.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/compose_actions.js
@@ -94,6 +94,10 @@ function override_private_message_recipient(override) {
 
 function test(label, f) {
     run_test(label, (override) => {
+        // We don't test the css calls; we just skip over them.
+        $("#compose").css = () => {};
+        $(".new_message_textarea").css = () => {};
+
         people.init();
         compose_state.set_message_type(false);
         f(override);
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/drafts.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/drafts.js
index 030d83ad70..5ce46a8ed9 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/drafts.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/drafts.js
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ const short_msg = {
 
 function test(label, f) {
     run_test(label, (override) => {
+        $("#draft_overlay").css = () => {};
         localStorage.clear();
         f(override);
     });
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js
index 52f40615f0..1d1a9ac0fe 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/recent_topics.js
@@ -339,6 +339,8 @@ function stub_out_filter_buttons() {
 
 function test(label, f) {
     run_test(label, (override) => {
+        $(".header").css = () => {};
+
         messages = sample_messages.map((message) => ({...message}));
         f(override);
     });
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/search.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/search.js
index ba143cb602..eac3133f87 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/search.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/search.js
@@ -216,9 +216,12 @@ test("initialize", () => {
     search_query_box.trigger(new $.Event("blur", stub_event));
     assert.equal(search_query_box.val(), "test string");
 
-    searchbox.css({"box-shadow": "inset 0px 0px 0px 2px hsl(204, 20%, 74%)"});
+    let css_args;
+    searchbox.css = (args) => {
+        css_args = args;
+    };
     searchbox.trigger("focusout");
-    assert.deepEqual(searchbox.css(), {"box-shadow": "unset"});
+    assert.deepEqual(css_args, {"box-shadow": "unset"});
 
     search.__Rewire__("is_using_input_method", false);
     searchbox_form.trigger("compositionend");
@@ -343,8 +346,15 @@ test("initiate_search", () => {
 
     $("#search_query")[0] = "stub";
 
+    const searchbox = $("#searchbox");
+    let css_args;
+    searchbox.css = (args) => {
+        css_args = args;
+    };
+
     search.initiate_search();
     assert(typeahead_forced_open);
     assert(is_searchbox_text_selected);
     assert(is_searchbox_focused);
+    assert.deepEqual(css_args, {"box-shadow": "inset 0px 0px 0px 2px hsl(204, 20%, 74%)"});
 });
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/search_legacy.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/search_legacy.js
index c64b07af32..4e412e4c9a 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/search_legacy.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/search_legacy.js
@@ -287,11 +287,21 @@ run_test("initiate_search", () => {
         is_searchbox_text_selected = true;
     });
 
+    let searchbox_css_args;
+
+    $("#searchbox").css = (args) => {
+        searchbox_css_args = args;
+    };
+
     search.initiate_search();
     assert(typeahead_forced_open);
     assert(is_searchbox_text_selected);
     assert.equal($("#search_query").val(), "ver");
 
+    assert.deepEqual(searchbox_css_args, {
+        "box-shadow": "inset 0px 0px 0px 2px hsl(204, 20%, 74%)",
+    });
+
     // test that we append space for user convenience
     narrow_state.filter = () => ({is_search: () => false});
     search.initiate_search();
diff --git a/frontend_tests/node_tests/settings_org.js b/frontend_tests/node_tests/settings_org.js
index 43b24cdf83..8fc2aa9c53 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/node_tests/settings_org.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/node_tests/settings_org.js
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ const dropdown_list_widget = zrequire("dropdown_list_widget");
 
 function test(label, f) {
     run_test(label, (override) => {
+        $("#realm-icon-upload-widget .upload-spinner-background").css = () => {};
         page_params.is_admin = false;
         page_params.realm_domains = [
             {domain: "example.com", allow_subdomains: true},
diff --git a/frontend_tests/zjsunit/zjquery.js b/frontend_tests/zjsunit/zjquery.js
index c68e763776..b9914673b0 100644
--- a/frontend_tests/zjsunit/zjquery.js
+++ b/frontend_tests/zjsunit/zjquery.js
@@ -174,7 +174,6 @@ function make_new_elem(selector, opts) {
     let html = "never-been-set";
     let text = "never-been-set";
     let value;
-    let css;
     let shown = false;
     let height;
 
@@ -202,13 +201,6 @@ function make_new_elem(selector, opts) {
             attrs.set(name, val);
             return self;
         },
-        css(...args) {
-            if (args.length === 0) {
-                return css || {};
-            }
-            [css] = args;
-            return self;
-        },
         data(name, val) {
             if (val === undefined) {
                 return attrs.get("data-" + name);