diff --git a/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_dataframe.py b/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_dataframe.py
index d112c58bc6..fef2f992a6 100644
--- a/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_dataframe.py
+++ b/apis/python/src/tiledbsoma/_dataframe.py
@@ -391,7 +391,8 @@ def write(
                 If a column is of categorical type in the schema and a flattened/non-categorical
                 column is presented for data on write, a ``ValueError`` is raised.  If a column is
                 of non-categorical type in the schema and a categorical column is presented for data
-                on write, the data are auto-flattened on behalf of the user.
+                on write, the data are written as an array of category values, and the category-type
+                information is not saved.
 
         Raises:
             TypeError:
diff --git a/apis/python/tests/test_dataframe.py b/apis/python/tests/test_dataframe.py
index b0ee2848ac..9c05a18ede 100644
--- a/apis/python/tests/test_dataframe.py
+++ b/apis/python/tests/test_dataframe.py
@@ -122,8 +122,7 @@ def test_dataframe_with_float_dim(tmp_path, arrow_schema):
     assert sdf.index_column_names == ("bar",)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("downgrade", [False, True])
-def test_dataframe_with_enumeration(tmp_path, downgrade):
+def test_dataframe_with_enumeration(tmp_path):
     schema = pa.schema(
         [
             pa.field("foo", pa.dictionary(pa.int64(), pa.large_string())),