diff --git a/pytential/qbx/__init__.py b/pytential/qbx/__init__.py
index a968c53a7..bfdd2a99e 100644
--- a/pytential/qbx/__init__.py
+++ b/pytential/qbx/__init__.py
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@
 .. autoclass:: QBXTargetAssociationFailedException
 
 .. autoclass:: DefaultExpansionFactory
+
+.. autoclass:: NonFFTExpansionFactory
 """
 
 
@@ -51,7 +53,8 @@ class DefaultExpansionFactory(DefaultExpansionFactoryBase):
     """A expansion factory to create QBX local, local and multipole expansions
     """
     def get_qbx_local_expansion_class(self, kernel):
-        local_expn_class = self.get_local_expansion_class(kernel)
+        local_expn_class = DefaultExpansionFactoryBase.get_local_expansion_class(
+                self, kernel)
         from sumpy.expansion.m2l import NonFFTM2LTranslationClassFactory
         factory = NonFFTM2LTranslationClassFactory()
         m2l_translation = factory.get_m2l_translation_class(kernel,
@@ -59,6 +62,13 @@ def get_qbx_local_expansion_class(self, kernel):
         return partial(local_expn_class, m2l_translation=m2l_translation)
 
 
+class NonFFTExpansionFactory(DefaultExpansionFactoryBase):
+    """A expansion factory to create QBX local, local and multipole expansions
+    with no FFT for multipole-to-local translations
+    """
+    get_local_expansion_class = DefaultExpansionFactory.get_qbx_local_expansion_class
+
+
 class _not_provided:  # noqa: N801
     pass
 
diff --git a/test/extra_int_eq_data.py b/test/extra_int_eq_data.py
index 3b9ed18b7..f7a188f1c 100644
--- a/test/extra_int_eq_data.py
+++ b/test/extra_int_eq_data.py
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ class IntegralEquationTestCase:
     fmm_backend: str = "sumpy"
     fmm_order: Optional[int] = None
     fmm_tol: Optional[float] = None
+    disable_fft: bool = False
 
     # solver
     gmres_tol: float = 1.0e-14
@@ -202,6 +203,10 @@ def get_layer_potential(self, actx, resolution, mesh_order):
             else:
                 fmm_kwargs["fmm_order"] = self.qbx_order + 5
 
+        if self.disable_fft:
+            from pytential.qbx import NonFFTExpansionFactory
+            fmm_kwargs["expansion_factory"] = NonFFTExpansionFactory()
+
         from pytential.qbx import QBXLayerPotentialSource
         return QBXLayerPotentialSource(
                 pre_density_discr,
diff --git a/test/test_scalar_int_eq.py b/test/test_scalar_int_eq.py
index d3085306d..eaff298c1 100644
--- a/test/test_scalar_int_eq.py
+++ b/test/test_scalar_int_eq.py
@@ -464,7 +464,12 @@ def run_int_eq_test(actx,
             bc_type="clamped_plate", side=-1, fmm_backend=None),
         inteq.EllipseTestCase(
             knl_class_or_helmholtz_k=BiharmonicKernel,
-            bc_type="clamped_plate", side=-1, fmm_backend="sumpy", fmm_order=15),
+            bc_type="clamped_plate", side=-1, fmm_backend="sumpy", fmm_order=15,
+            gmres_tol=1e-9),
+        inteq.EllipseTestCase(
+            knl_class_or_helmholtz_k=BiharmonicKernel,
+            bc_type="clamped_plate", side=-1, fmm_backend="sumpy", fmm_order=15,
+            disable_fft=True),
         ]