diff --git a/clap_blocks/src/querier.rs b/clap_blocks/src/querier.rs
index 6f6eb2fa9b..e0af78b54e 100644
--- a/clap_blocks/src/querier.rs
+++ b/clap_blocks/src/querier.rs
@@ -18,16 +18,21 @@ pub struct QuerierConfig {
     num_query_threads: Option<usize>,
 
     /// gRPC address for the querier to talk with the ingester. For
-    /// example "http://127.0.0.1:8083" or
-    /// "http://10.10.10.1:8083,http://10.10.10.2:8083" for multiple
-    /// addresses.
+    /// example:
+    ///
+    /// "http://127.0.0.1:8083"
+    ///
+    /// or
+    ///
+    /// "http://10.10.10.1:8083,http://10.10.10.2:8083"
+    ///
+    /// for multiple addresses.
     ///
     /// Note we plan to improve this interface in
     /// <https://github.com/influxdata/influxdb_iox/issues/3996>
     #[clap(
         long = "--ingester-address",
         env = "INFLUXDB_IOX_INGESTER_ADDRESSES",
-        default_value = "http://127.0.0.1:8083",
         multiple_values = true,
         use_value_delimiter = true
     )]
@@ -70,10 +75,7 @@ mod tests {
         let actual = QuerierConfig::try_parse_from(["my_binary"]).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(actual.num_query_threads(), None);
-        assert_eq!(
-            actual.ingester_addresses().unwrap(),
-            &["http://127.0.0.1:8083".to_string()]
-        );
+        assert!(actual.ingester_addresses().unwrap().is_empty());
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -82,10 +84,7 @@ mod tests {
             QuerierConfig::try_parse_from(["my_binary", "--num-query-threads", "42"]).unwrap();
 
         assert_eq!(actual.num_query_threads(), Some(42));
-        assert_eq!(
-            actual.ingester_addresses().unwrap(),
-            &["http://127.0.0.1:8083".to_string()]
-        );
+        assert!(actual.ingester_addresses().unwrap().is_empty());
     }
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/influxdb_iox/tests/end_to_end_ng_cases/querier.rs b/influxdb_iox/tests/end_to_end_ng_cases/querier.rs
index de06b2a0d5..9de669774d 100644
--- a/influxdb_iox/tests/end_to_end_ng_cases/querier.rs
+++ b/influxdb_iox/tests/end_to_end_ng_cases/querier.rs
@@ -104,3 +104,53 @@ async fn basic_on_parquet() {
     ];
     assert_batches_sorted_eq!(&expected, &batches);
 }
+
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn basic_no_ingster_connection() {
+    let database_url = maybe_skip_integration!();
+
+    let table_name = "the_table";
+
+    let router2_config = TestConfig::new_router2(&database_url);
+    // fast parquet
+    let ingester_config = TestConfig::new_ingester(&router2_config).with_fast_parquet_generation();
+
+    // specially create a querier config that is NOT connected to the ingester
+    let querier_config = TestConfig::new_querier_without_ingester(&ingester_config);
+
+    // Set up the cluster  ====================================
+    let cluster = MiniCluster::new()
+        .with_router2(router2_config)
+        .await
+        .with_ingester(ingester_config)
+        .await
+        .with_querier(querier_config)
+        .await;
+
+    // Write some data into the v2 HTTP API ==============
+    let lp = format!("{},tag1=A,tag2=B val=42i 123456", table_name);
+    let response = cluster.write_to_router(lp).await;
+    assert_eq!(response.status(), StatusCode::NO_CONTENT);
+
+    // Wait for data to be persisted to parquet
+    let write_token = get_write_token(&response);
+    wait_for_persisted(write_token, cluster.ingester().ingester_grpc_connection()).await;
+
+    // run query
+    let sql = format!("select * from {}", table_name);
+    let batches = run_query(
+        sql,
+        cluster.namespace(),
+        cluster.querier().querier_grpc_connection(),
+    )
+    .await;
+
+    let expected = [
+        "+------+------+--------------------------------+-----+",
+        "| tag1 | tag2 | time                           | val |",
+        "+------+------+--------------------------------+-----+",
+        "| A    | B    | 1970-01-01T00:00:00.000123456Z | 42  |",
+        "+------+------+--------------------------------+-----+",
+    ];
+    assert_batches_sorted_eq!(&expected, &batches);
+}
diff --git a/test_helpers_end_to_end_ng/src/config.rs b/test_helpers_end_to_end_ng/src/config.rs
index 4f6e67d691..86b3fa6b4a 100644
--- a/test_helpers_end_to_end_ng/src/config.rs
+++ b/test_helpers_end_to_end_ng/src/config.rs
@@ -72,12 +72,18 @@ impl TestConfig {
         let ingester_address =
             Arc::clone(&ingester_config.addrs().ingester_grpc_api().client_base());
 
-        Self::new(ServerType::Querier, ingester_config.dsn())
-            .with_existing_object_store(ingester_config)
+        Self::new_querier_without_ingester(ingester_config)
             // Configure to talk with the ingester
             .with_ingester_addresses(&[ingester_address.as_ref()])
     }
 
+    /// Create a minimal querier configuration from the specified
+    /// ingester configuration, using the same dsn and object store
+    pub fn new_querier_without_ingester(ingester_config: &TestConfig) -> Self {
+        Self::new(ServerType::Querier, ingester_config.dsn())
+            .with_existing_object_store(ingester_config)
+    }
+
     /// Create a minimal all in one configuration
     pub fn new_all_in_one(dsn: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
         Self::new(ServerType::AllInOne, dsn)