diff --git a/tests/testsuite/artifact_dep.rs b/tests/testsuite/artifact_dep.rs
index 2a089395f2c..8935d80ab6f 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/artifact_dep.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/artifact_dep.rs
@@ -1872,7 +1872,9 @@ fn env_vars_and_build_products_for_various_build_targets() {
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_artifact_dep() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
+
     Package::new("bar", "1.0.0").publish();
     Package::new("baz", "1.0.0").publish();
 
@@ -1901,6 +1903,15 @@ fn publish_artifact_dep() {
         .file("src/lib.rs", "")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.1.0")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish -Z bindeps --no-verify")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo(&["bindeps"])
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/credential_process.rs b/tests/testsuite/credential_process.rs
index 38c8ca13e11..0939592458b 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/credential_process.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/credential_process.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 //! Tests for credential-process.
 
-use cargo_test_support::registry::TestRegistry;
+use cargo_test_support::registry::{Package, TestRegistry};
 use cargo_test_support::{basic_manifest, cargo_process, paths, project, registry, Project};
 use std::fs;
 
@@ -94,6 +94,16 @@ fn warn_both_token_and_process() {
         .file("src/lib.rs", "")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.1.0")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .alternative(true)
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish --no-verify --registry alternative -Z credential-process")
         .masquerade_as_nightly_cargo(&["credential-process"])
         .with_status(101)
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/cross_publish.rs b/tests/testsuite/cross_publish.rs
index aa02a8389f8..4af11afa658 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/cross_publish.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/cross_publish.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ fn publish_with_target() {
         return;
     }
 
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project()
         .file(
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/features_namespaced.rs b/tests/testsuite/features_namespaced.rs
index 8aefdbdc7b4..7d061da5ba9 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/features_namespaced.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/features_namespaced.rs
@@ -858,7 +858,9 @@ bar v1.0.0
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_no_implicit() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
+
     // Does not include implicit features or dep: syntax on publish.
     Package::new("opt-dep1", "1.0.0").publish();
     Package::new("opt-dep2", "1.0.0").publish();
@@ -885,6 +887,15 @@ fn publish_no_implicit() {
         .file("src/lib.rs", "")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.1.0")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish --no-verify")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .with_stderr(
@@ -971,7 +982,9 @@ feat = ["opt-dep1"]
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
+
     // Publish behavior with explicit dep: syntax.
     Package::new("bar", "1.0.0").publish();
     let p = project()
@@ -997,6 +1010,15 @@ fn publish() {
         .file("src/lib.rs", "")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.1.0")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .with_stderr(
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/publish.rs b/tests/testsuite/publish.rs
index d0851f62407..24740ce0df3 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/publish.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/publish.rs
@@ -85,22 +85,9 @@ fn validate_upload_li() {
     );
 }
 
-fn validate_upload_foo_clean() {
-    publish::validate_upload(
-        CLEAN_FOO_JSON,
-        "foo-0.0.1.crate",
-        &[
-            "Cargo.lock",
-            "Cargo.toml",
-            "Cargo.toml.orig",
-            "src/main.rs",
-            ".cargo_vcs_info.json",
-        ],
-    );
-}
-
 #[cargo_test]
 fn simple() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -118,6 +105,15 @@ fn simple() {
         .file("src/main.rs", "fn main() {}")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.0.1")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish --no-verify")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .with_stderr(
@@ -138,7 +134,8 @@ See [..]
 // `[registry]` table.
 #[cargo_test]
 fn old_token_location() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project()
         .file(
@@ -183,12 +180,14 @@ See [..]
         )
         .run();
 
-    validate_upload_foo();
+    // Skip `validate_upload_foo` as we just cared we got far enough for verify the token behavior.
+    // Other tests will verify the endpoint gets the right payload.
 }
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn simple_with_index() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project()
         .file(
@@ -220,11 +219,13 @@ fn simple_with_index() {
         )
         .run();
 
-    validate_upload_foo();
+    // Skip `validate_upload_foo` as we just cared we got far enough for verify the VCS behavior.
+    // Other tests will verify the endpoint gets the right payload.
 }
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn git_deps() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -262,6 +263,7 @@ the `git` specification will be removed from the dependency declaration.
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn path_dependency_no_version() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -301,6 +303,7 @@ the `path` specification will be removed from the dependency declaration.
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn unpublishable_crate() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -333,6 +336,7 @@ The registry `crates-io` is not listed in the `publish` value in Cargo.toml.
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn dont_publish_dirty() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project().file("bar", "").build();
@@ -374,7 +378,8 @@ to proceed despite this and include the uncommitted changes, pass the `--allow-d
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_clean() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project().build();
 
@@ -409,12 +414,14 @@ fn publish_clean() {
         )
         .run();
 
-    validate_upload_foo_clean();
+    // Skip `validate_upload_foo_clean` as we just cared we got far enough for verify the VCS behavior.
+    // Other tests will verify the endpoint gets the right payload.
 }
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_in_sub_repo() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project().no_manifest().file("baz", "").build();
 
@@ -450,12 +457,14 @@ fn publish_in_sub_repo() {
         )
         .run();
 
-    validate_upload_foo_clean();
+    // Skip `validate_upload_foo_clean` as we just cared we got far enough for verify the VCS behavior.
+    // Other tests will verify the endpoint gets the right payload.
 }
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_when_ignored() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project().file("baz", "").build();
 
@@ -491,23 +500,14 @@ fn publish_when_ignored() {
         )
         .run();
 
-    publish::validate_upload(
-        CLEAN_FOO_JSON,
-        "foo-0.0.1.crate",
-        &[
-            "Cargo.lock",
-            "Cargo.toml",
-            "Cargo.toml.orig",
-            "src/main.rs",
-            ".gitignore",
-            ".cargo_vcs_info.json",
-        ],
-    );
+    // Skip `validate_upload` as we just cared we got far enough for verify the VCS behavior.
+    // Other tests will verify the endpoint gets the right payload.
 }
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn ignore_when_crate_ignored() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project().no_manifest().file("bar/baz", "").build();
 
@@ -542,21 +542,13 @@ fn ignore_when_crate_ignored() {
         )
         .run();
 
-    publish::validate_upload(
-        CLEAN_FOO_JSON,
-        "foo-0.0.1.crate",
-        &[
-            "Cargo.lock",
-            "Cargo.toml",
-            "Cargo.toml.orig",
-            "src/main.rs",
-            "baz",
-        ],
-    );
+    // Skip `validate_upload` as we just cared we got far enough for verify the VCS behavior.
+    // Other tests will verify the endpoint gets the right payload.
 }
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn new_crate_rejected() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project().file("baz", "").build();
@@ -589,6 +581,7 @@ fn new_crate_rejected() {
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn dry_run() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -692,6 +685,7 @@ The registry `alternative` is not listed in the `publish` value in Cargo.toml.
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_allowed_registry() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     registry::alt_init();
 
     let p = project().build();
@@ -715,6 +709,16 @@ fn publish_allowed_registry() {
         .file("src/main.rs", "fn main() {}")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.0.1")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .alternative(true)
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish --registry alternative")
         .with_stderr(
             "\
@@ -742,6 +746,7 @@ fn publish_allowed_registry() {
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_implicitly_to_only_allowed_registry() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     registry::alt_init();
 
     let p = project().build();
@@ -765,6 +770,16 @@ fn publish_implicitly_to_only_allowed_registry() {
         .file("src/main.rs", "fn main() {}")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.0.1")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .alternative(true)
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish")
         .with_stderr(
             "\
@@ -857,7 +872,8 @@ The registry `alternative` is not listed in the `publish` value in Cargo.toml.
 // Explicitly setting `crates-io` in the publish list.
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_with_crates_io_explicit() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project()
         .file(
@@ -903,7 +919,8 @@ The registry `alternative` is not listed in the `publish` value in Cargo.toml.
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_with_select_features() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project()
         .file(
@@ -948,7 +965,8 @@ fn publish_with_select_features() {
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_with_all_features() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project()
         .file(
@@ -993,6 +1011,7 @@ fn publish_with_all_features() {
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_with_no_default_features() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -1028,6 +1047,7 @@ fn publish_with_no_default_features() {
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_with_patch() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
     Package::new("bar", "1.0.0").publish();
 
@@ -1071,6 +1091,15 @@ fn publish_with_patch() {
     // Remove the usage of new functionality and try again.
     p.change_file("src/main.rs", "extern crate bar; pub fn main() {}");
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.0.1")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .with_stderr(
@@ -1226,7 +1255,9 @@ include `--registry crates-io` to use crates.io
 // A dependency with both `git` and `version`.
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_git_with_version() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
+
     Package::new("dep1", "1.0.1")
         .file("src/lib.rs", "pub fn f() -> i32 {1}")
         .publish();
@@ -1267,6 +1298,16 @@ fn publish_git_with_version() {
         .build();
 
     p.cargo("run").with_stdout("2").run();
+
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.1.0")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish --no-verify")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .with_stderr(
@@ -1360,6 +1401,7 @@ fn publish_git_with_version() {
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_dev_dep_no_version() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -1385,6 +1427,15 @@ fn publish_dev_dep_no_version() {
         .file("bar/src/lib.rs", "")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.1.0")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish --no-verify")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .with_stderr(
@@ -1444,7 +1495,8 @@ repository = "foo"
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn credentials_ambiguous_filename() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let credentials_toml = paths::home().join(".cargo/credentials.toml");
     fs::write(credentials_toml, r#"token = "api-token""#).unwrap();
@@ -1477,15 +1529,15 @@ fn credentials_ambiguous_filename() {
 ",
         )
         .run();
-
-    validate_upload_foo();
 }
 
 // --index will not load registry.token to avoid possibly leaking
 // crates.io token to another server.
 #[cargo_test]
 fn index_requires_token() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
+
     let credentials = paths::home().join(".cargo/credentials");
     fs::remove_file(&credentials).unwrap();
 
@@ -1548,7 +1600,9 @@ include `--registry dummy-registry` or `--registry crates-io`
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish_with_missing_readme() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
+
     let p = project()
         .file(
             "Cargo.toml",
@@ -1835,6 +1889,7 @@ Caused by:
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn in_package_workspace() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -1863,6 +1918,13 @@ fn in_package_workspace() {
         .file("li/src/main.rs", "fn main() {}")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("li", "0.0.1").file("src/lib.rs", "").publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish -p li --no-verify")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .with_stderr(
@@ -1881,6 +1943,7 @@ See [..]
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn with_duplicate_spec_in_members() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -1932,6 +1995,7 @@ fn with_duplicate_spec_in_members() {
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn in_package_workspace_with_members_with_features_old() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -1959,6 +2023,13 @@ fn in_package_workspace_with_members_with_features_old() {
         .file("li/src/main.rs", "fn main() {}")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("li", "0.0.1").file("src/lib.rs", "").publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish -p li --no-verify")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .with_stderr(
@@ -1977,6 +2048,7 @@ See [..]
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn in_virtual_workspace() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -2012,7 +2084,8 @@ fn in_virtual_workspace() {
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn in_virtual_workspace_with_p() {
-    let registry = registry::init();
+    // `publish` generally requires a remote registry
+    let registry = registry::RegistryBuilder::new().http_api().build();
 
     let p = project()
         .file(
@@ -2063,6 +2136,7 @@ See [..]
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn in_package_workspace_not_found() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -2107,6 +2181,7 @@ error: package ID specification `li` did not match any packages
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn in_package_workspace_found_multiple() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
@@ -2164,6 +2239,7 @@ error: the `-p` argument must be specified to select a single package to publish
 #[cargo_test]
 // https://github.com/rust-lang/cargo/issues/10536
 fn publish_path_dependency_without_workspace() {
+    // Use local registry for faster test times since no publish will occur
     let registry = registry::init();
 
     let p = project()
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/weak_dep_features.rs b/tests/testsuite/weak_dep_features.rs
index 1ef12b371ef..e0c06d729cc 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/weak_dep_features.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/weak_dep_features.rs
@@ -523,7 +523,9 @@ bar v1.0.0
 
 #[cargo_test]
 fn publish() {
+    // HACK below allows us to use a local registry
     let registry = registry::init();
+
     // Publish behavior with /? syntax.
     Package::new("bar", "1.0.0").feature("feat", &[]).publish();
     let p = project()
@@ -548,6 +550,15 @@ fn publish() {
         .file("src/lib.rs", "")
         .build();
 
+    // HACK: Inject `foo` directly into the index so `publish` won't block for it to be in
+    // the index.
+    //
+    // This is to ensure we can verify the Summary we post to the registry as doing so precludes
+    // the registry from processing the publish.
+    Package::new("foo", "0.1.0")
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .publish();
+
     p.cargo("publish")
         .replace_crates_io(registry.index_url())
         .with_stderr(