diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/compare_fixtures.py b/test_runner/fixtures/compare_fixtures.py
index ceeeffc785..78a12c6c45 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/compare_fixtures.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/compare_fixtures.py
@@ -89,16 +89,13 @@ class NeonCompare(PgCompare):
         self.env = neon_simple_env
         self._zenbenchmark = zenbenchmark
         self._pg_bin = pg_bin
+        self.pageserver_http_client = self.env.pageserver.http_client()
 
         # We only use one branch and one timeline
         self.env.neon_cli.create_branch(branch_name, "empty")
         self._pg = self.env.postgres.create_start(branch_name)
         self.timeline = self.pg.safe_psql("SHOW neon.timeline_id")[0][0]
 
-        # Long-lived cursor, useful for flushing
-        self.psconn = self.env.pageserver.connect()
-        self.pscur = self.psconn.cursor()
-
     @property
     def pg(self):
         return self._pg
@@ -112,10 +109,10 @@ class NeonCompare(PgCompare):
         return self._pg_bin
 
     def flush(self):
-        self.pscur.execute(f"do_gc {self.env.initial_tenant} {self.timeline} 0")
+        self.pageserver_http_client.timeline_gc(self.env.initial_tenant, self.timeline, 0)
 
     def compact(self):
-        self.pscur.execute(f"compact {self.env.initial_tenant} {self.timeline}")
+        self.pageserver_http_client.timeline_compact(self.env.initial_tenant, self.timeline)
 
     def report_peak_memory_use(self) -> None:
         self.zenbenchmark.record(