diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_cell.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_cell.py
index eebe0f895c..4185e9a44c 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_cell.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_cell.py
@@ -57,43 +57,37 @@ def test_clone():
     m = openmc.Material()
     cyl = openmc.ZCylinder()
     c = openmc.Cell(fill=m, region=-cyl)
-    c.temperature = 650.
-    c.translation = (1,2,3)
-    c.rotation = (4,5,6)
-    c.volume = 100
 
+    # Check cloning with all optional params as the defaults
     c2 = c.clone()
     assert c2.id != c.id
     assert c2.fill != c.fill
     assert c2.region != c.region
-    assert c2.temperature == c.temperature
-    assert all(c2.translation == c.translation)
-    assert all(c2.rotation == c.rotation)
-    assert c2.volume == c.volume
 
     c3 = c.clone(clone_materials=False)
     assert c3.id != c.id
     assert c3.fill == c.fill
     assert c3.region != c.region
-    assert c3.temperature == c.temperature
-    assert all(c2.translation == c.translation)
-    assert all(c2.rotation == c.rotation)
 
     c4 = c.clone(clone_regions=False)
     assert c4.id != c.id
     assert c4.fill != c.fill
     assert c4.region == c.region
-    assert c4.temperature == c.temperature
-    assert all(c2.translation == c.translation)
-    assert all(c2.rotation == c.rotation)
+
+    # Add optional properties to the original cell to ensure they're cloned successfully
+    c.temperature = 650.
+    c.translation = [1,2,3]
+    c.rotation = [4,5,6]
+    c.volume = 100
 
     c5 = c.clone(clone_materials=False, clone_regions=False)
     assert c5.id != c.id
     assert c5.fill == c.fill
     assert c5.region == c.region
     assert c5.temperature == c.temperature
-    assert all(c2.translation == c.translation)
-    assert all(c2.rotation == c.rotation)
+    assert c5.volume == c.volume
+    assert all(c5.translation == c.translation)
+    assert all(c5.rotation == c.rotation)
 
     # Mutate the original to ensure the changes are not seen in the clones
     c.fill = openmc.Material()
@@ -101,11 +95,13 @@ def test_clone():
     c.translation = [-1,-2,-3]
     c.rotation = [-4,-5,-6]
     c.temperature = 1
+    c.volume = 1
     assert c5.fill != c.fill
     assert c5.region != c.region
     assert c5.temperature != c.temperature
-    assert all(c2.translation != c.translation)
-    assert all(c2.rotation != c.rotation)
+    assert c5.volume != c.volume
+    assert all(c5.translation != c.translation)
+    assert all(c5.rotation != c.rotation)
 
 
 def test_temperature(cell_with_lattice):