diff --git a/pyflow/host.py b/pyflow/host.py
index 35ed405..bc85402 100644
--- a/pyflow/host.py
+++ b/pyflow/host.py
@@ -1027,6 +1027,10 @@ class TroikaHost(Host):
     Parameters:
         name(str): The name of the host.
         user(str): The user to use for troika commands to the host.
+        troika_exec(str): The path to the troika executable, defaults to `%TROIKA:troika%`.
+        troika_config(str): The path to the troika configuration file, defaults to `%TROIKA_CONFIG%`.
+            Value False or None will deactivate the config in the command.
+        troika_version(str): The version of the troika executable, defaults to `0.2.3`.
         hostname(str): The hostname of the host, otherwise `name` will be used.
         scratch_directory(str): The path in which tasks will be run, unless otherwise specified.
         log_directory(str): The directory to use for script output. Normally `ECF_HOME`, but may need to be changed on
@@ -1051,24 +1055,26 @@ class TroikaHost(Host):
             pass
     """
 
-    def __init__(self, name, user, **kwargs):
-        self.troika_exec = kwargs.pop("troika_exec", "troika")
-        self.troika_config = kwargs.pop("troika_config", "")
-        self.troika_version = tuple(
-            map(int, kwargs.pop("troika_version", "0.2.1").split("."))
-        )
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        name,
+        user,
+        troika_exec="%TROIKA:troika%",
+        troika_config="%TROIKA_CONFIG%",
+        troika_version="0.2.3",
+        **kwargs,
+    ):
+        self.troika_exec = troika_exec
+        self.troika_config = troika_config
+        self.troika_version = tuple(map(int, troika_version.split(".")))
         super().__init__(name, user=user, **kwargs)
 
     def troika_command(self, command):
         cmd = " ".join(
             [
-                f"%TROIKA:{self.troika_exec}%",
+                f"{self.troika_exec}",
                 "-vv",
-                (
-                    f"-c %TROIKA_CONFIG:{self.troika_config}%"
-                    if self.troika_config
-                    else ""
-                ),
+                (f"-c {self.troika_config}" if self.troika_config else ""),
                 f"{command}",
                 f"-u {self.user}",
             ]
diff --git a/tests/test_extern.py b/tests/test_extern.py
index 1baa6a8..8dfb2fd 100644
--- a/tests/test_extern.py
+++ b/tests/test_extern.py
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ def test_extern():
 
     with pytest.raises(AssertionError) as excinfo:
         s.ecflow_definition()
-    assert excinfo.value.args == ("Attempting to add unknown extern reference",)
+    assert excinfo.value.args == (
+        "Attempting to add unknown extern reference /a/b/c/d",
+    )
 
 
 def test_extern_attributes():
diff --git a/tests/test_host.py b/tests/test_host.py
index 09fb0b4..5ea1f39 100644
--- a/tests/test_host.py
+++ b/tests/test_host.py
@@ -256,12 +256,9 @@ def check_pragma(script, pragmas):
 
 def test_troika_host():
     host1 = pyflow.TroikaHost(
-        name="test_host",
-        user="test_user",
-    )
-    host2 = pyflow.TroikaHost(
-        name="test_host", user="test_user", troika_version="2.2.2"
+        name="test_host", user="test_user", troika_version="0.2.1"
     )
+    host2 = pyflow.TroikaHost(name="test_host", user="test_user")
 
     submit_args = {
         "tasks": 2,  # deprecated option, will be translated to total_tasks
@@ -284,11 +281,11 @@ def test_troika_host():
 
     assert (
         s.ECF_JOB_CMD.value
-        == "%TROIKA:troika% -vv  submit -u test_user -o %ECF_JOBOUT% test_host %ECF_JOB%"
+        == "%TROIKA:troika% -vv -c %TROIKA_CONFIG% submit -u test_user -o %ECF_JOBOUT% test_host %ECF_JOB%"
     )
     assert (
         s.ECF_KILL_CMD.value
-        == "%TROIKA:troika% -vv  kill -u test_user test_host %ECF_JOB%"
+        == "%TROIKA:troika% -vv -c %TROIKA_CONFIG% kill -u test_user test_host %ECF_JOB%"
     )
 
     t1_script = t1.generate_script()
@@ -385,15 +382,34 @@ def test_troika_host_options():
 
     assert (
         s.ECF_JOB_CMD.value
-        == "%TROIKA:/path/to/troika% -vv -c %TROIKA_CONFIG:/path/to/troika.cfg% submit -u test_user -o %ECF_JOBOUT% test_host %ECF_JOB%"  # noqa: E501
+        == "/path/to/troika -vv -c /path/to/troika.cfg submit -u test_user -o %ECF_JOBOUT% test_host %ECF_JOB%"  # noqa: E501
     )
     assert (
         s.ECF_KILL_CMD.value
-        == "%TROIKA:/path/to/troika% -vv -c %TROIKA_CONFIG:/path/to/troika.cfg% kill -u test_user test_host %ECF_JOB%"  # noqa: E501
+        == "/path/to/troika -vv -c /path/to/troika.cfg kill -u test_user test_host %ECF_JOB%"  # noqa: E501
     )
     assert s.host.troika_version == (2, 1, 3)
 
 
+def test_troika_host_options_no_config():
+    host = pyflow.TroikaHost(
+        name="test_host",
+        user="test_user",
+        troika_config=None,
+    )
+
+    s = pyflow.Suite("s", host=host)
+
+    assert (
+        s.ECF_JOB_CMD.value
+        == "%TROIKA:troika% -vv  submit -u test_user -o %ECF_JOBOUT% test_host %ECF_JOB%"  # noqa: E501
+    )
+    assert (
+        s.ECF_KILL_CMD.value
+        == "%TROIKA:troika% -vv  kill -u test_user test_host %ECF_JOB%"  # noqa: E501
+    )
+
+
 def test_traps():
     sigs = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 13]
     with pyflow.Suite("s") as s1: