diff --git a/test/s3/retention/object_lock_validation_test.go b/test/s3/retention/object_lock_validation_test.go
index 4293486e8..3633e6c24 100644
--- a/test/s3/retention/object_lock_validation_test.go
+++ b/test/s3/retention/object_lock_validation_test.go
@@ -77,14 +77,14 @@ func TestObjectLockValidation(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Setting Object Lock retention should succeed")
 	t.Log("   Object Lock retention applied successfully")
 
-	// Verify retention allows simple DELETE (creates delete marker) but blocks version deletion
-	// AWS S3 behavior: Simple DELETE (without version ID) is ALWAYS allowed and creates delete marker
+	// Verify retention blocks simple DELETE (COMPLIANCE mode is strict WORM)
+	// AWS S3 behavior: Simple DELETE (without version ID) is blocked by COMPLIANCE retention
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
 		Bucket: aws.String(bucketName),
 		Key:    aws.String(key),
 	})
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Simple DELETE should succeed and create delete marker (AWS S3 behavior)")
-	t.Log("   Simple DELETE succeeded (creates delete marker - correct AWS behavior)")
+	require.Error(t, err, "Simple DELETE should be blocked by COMPLIANCE retention (AWS S3 behavior)")
+	t.Log("   Simple DELETE correctly blocked by COMPLIANCE retention")
 
 	// Now verify that DELETE with version ID is properly blocked by retention
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
diff --git a/test/s3/retention/s3_retention_test.go b/test/s3/retention/s3_retention_test.go
index 4abdf6d87..fc606030e 100644
--- a/test/s3/retention/s3_retention_test.go
+++ b/test/s3/retention/s3_retention_test.go
@@ -329,12 +329,12 @@ func TestRetentionModeCompliance(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, types.ObjectLockRetentionModeCompliance, retentionResp.Retention.Mode)
 
-	// Try simple DELETE - should succeed and create delete marker (AWS S3 behavior)
+	// Try simple DELETE - should fail for COMPLIANCE mode (strict WORM)
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
 		Bucket: aws.String(bucketName),
 		Key:    aws.String(key),
 	})
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Simple DELETE should succeed and create delete marker")
+	require.Error(t, err, "Simple DELETE should be blocked by COMPLIANCE retention")
 
 	// Try DELETE with version ID - should fail for COMPLIANCE mode
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
@@ -388,12 +388,12 @@ func TestLegalHoldWorkflow(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Equal(t, types.ObjectLockLegalHoldStatusOn, legalHoldResp.LegalHold.Status)
 
-	// Try simple DELETE - should succeed and create delete marker (AWS S3 behavior)
+	// Try simple DELETE - should fail due to legal hold
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
 		Bucket: aws.String(bucketName),
 		Key:    aws.String(key),
 	})
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Simple DELETE should succeed and create delete marker")
+	require.Error(t, err, "Simple DELETE should be blocked by legal hold")
 
 	// Try DELETE with version ID - should fail due to legal hold
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
@@ -591,12 +591,12 @@ func TestRetentionAndLegalHoldCombination(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	// Try simple DELETE - should succeed and create delete marker (AWS S3 behavior)
+	// Try simple DELETE - should fail due to legal hold + COMPLIANCE retention
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
 		Bucket: aws.String(bucketName),
 		Key:    aws.String(key),
 	})
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Simple DELETE should succeed and create delete marker")
+	require.Error(t, err, "Simple DELETE should be blocked by legal hold")
 
 	// Try DELETE with version ID and bypass - should still fail due to legal hold
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ func TestRetentionAndLegalHoldCombination(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.Error(t, err, "Legal hold should prevent deletion even with governance bypass")
 
-	// Remove legal hold (must specify version ID since latest version is now delete marker)
+	// Remove legal hold (must specify version ID)
 	_, err = client.PutObjectLegalHold(context.TODO(), &s3.PutObjectLegalHoldInput{
 		Bucket:    aws.String(bucketName),
 		Key:       aws.String(key),
diff --git a/test/s3/retention/s3_worm_integration_test.go b/test/s3/retention/s3_worm_integration_test.go
index 19010092c..6dc0fda22 100644
--- a/test/s3/retention/s3_worm_integration_test.go
+++ b/test/s3/retention/s3_worm_integration_test.go
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ func TestWORMRetentionIntegration(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	// Try simple DELETE - should succeed and create delete marker (AWS S3 behavior)
+	// Try simple DELETE - should fail due to GOVERNANCE retention
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
 		Bucket: aws.String(bucketName),
 		Key:    aws.String(key),
 	})
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Simple DELETE should succeed and create delete marker")
+	require.Error(t, err, "Simple DELETE should be blocked by GOVERNANCE retention")
 
 	// Try DELETE with version ID - should fail due to GOVERNANCE retention
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
@@ -325,12 +325,12 @@ func TestRetentionWithMultipartUpload(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	// Try simple DELETE - should succeed and create delete marker (AWS S3 behavior)
+	// Try simple DELETE - should fail due to GOVERNANCE retention
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{
 		Bucket: aws.String(bucketName),
 		Key:    aws.String(key),
 	})
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Simple DELETE should succeed and create delete marker")
+	require.Error(t, err, "Simple DELETE should be blocked by GOVERNANCE retention")
 
 	// Try DELETE with version ID - should fail due to GOVERNANCE retention
 	_, err = client.DeleteObject(context.TODO(), &s3.DeleteObjectInput{