diff --git a/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/select_for_update_read_committed b/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/select_for_update_read_committed
index e8b73e4e66bd..d255de6c77a1 100644
--- a/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/select_for_update_read_committed
+++ b/pkg/sql/logictest/testdata/logic_test/select_for_update_read_committed
@@ -3,9 +3,6 @@
 statement ok
 SET CLUSTER SETTING sql.txn.read_committed_syntax.enabled = true
 
-statement ok
-SET SESSION CHARACTERISTICS AS TRANSACTION ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED
-
 statement ok
 CREATE TABLE abc (a INT PRIMARY KEY, b INT, c INT, INDEX (b), FAMILY (a, b, c))
 
@@ -50,14 +47,18 @@ user root
 # Normal reads do not block.
 
 query III rowsort
-SELECT * FROM abc
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM abc;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 1  10  100
 2  20  200
 3  30  300
 
 query III rowsort
-SELECT * FROM bcd
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM bcd;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 20  200  2000
 30  300  3000
@@ -66,28 +67,34 @@ SELECT * FROM bcd
 # SKIP LOCKED reads do not block.
 
 query III rowsort
-SELECT * FROM abc FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM abc FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 3  30  300
 
 query III rowsort
-SELECT * FROM bcd FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM bcd FOR UPDATE SKIP LOCKED;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 20  200  2000
-30  300  3000
-40  400  4000
 
 # Shared reads block on exclusive locks but not on shared locks.
 
 query III async,rowsort q00
-SELECT * FROM abc FOR SHARE
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM abc FOR SHARE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 1  11  101
 2  21  201
 3  30  300
 
 query III rowsort
-SELECT * FROM bcd FOR SHARE
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM bcd FOR SHARE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 20  200  2000
 30  300  3000
@@ -96,14 +103,18 @@ SELECT * FROM bcd FOR SHARE
 # Exclusive reads block on both.
 
 query III async,rowsort q01
-SELECT * FROM abc FOR UPDATE
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM abc FOR UPDATE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 1  11  101
 2  21  201
 3  30  300
 
 query III async,rowsort q02
-SELECT * FROM bcd FOR UPDATE
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM bcd FOR UPDATE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 20  200  2000
 30  300  3000
@@ -112,28 +123,38 @@ SELECT * FROM bcd FOR UPDATE
 # Try more exclusive-locking queries.
 
 query I async q03
-SELECT a FROM abc WHERE a = 2 FOR UPDATE
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT a FROM abc WHERE a = 2 FOR UPDATE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 2
 
 query I async q04
-SELECT b FROM abc WHERE a = 2 FOR UPDATE
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT b FROM abc WHERE a = 2 FOR UPDATE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 21
 
 query I async q05
-SELECT c FROM abc WHERE a = 2 FOR UPDATE
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT c FROM abc WHERE a = 2 FOR UPDATE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 201
 
 query I async q06
-SELECT c FROM abc ORDER BY a DESC LIMIT 2 FOR UPDATE
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT c FROM abc ORDER BY a DESC LIMIT 2 FOR UPDATE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 300
 201
 
 query I async,rowsort q07
-SELECT a + b + c FROM abc FOR UPDATE
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT a + b + c FROM abc FOR UPDATE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 113
 224
@@ -141,13 +162,17 @@ SELECT a + b + c FROM abc FOR UPDATE
 
 # Try some joins
 
-query IIIII async q08
-SELECT * FROM abc JOIN bcd USING (b) FOR SHARE
+query IIIII async,rowsort q08
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM abc JOIN bcd USING (b) FOR SHARE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 30  3  300  300  3000
 
-query IIIII async q09
-SELECT * FROM abc JOIN bcd USING (c) FOR UPDATE
+query IIIII async,rowsort q09
+BEGIN ISOLATION LEVEL READ COMMITTED;
+SELECT * FROM abc JOIN bcd USING (c) FOR UPDATE;
+COMMIT;
 ----
 300  3  30  30  3000