diff --git a/python/zarrs/utils.py b/python/zarrs/utils.py
index 2f483de..8a314a7 100644
--- a/python/zarrs/utils.py
+++ b/python/zarrs/utils.py
@@ -7,8 +7,7 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any
 
 import numpy as np
-from zarr.core.array_spec import ArraySpec
-from zarr.core.indexing import SelectorTuple, is_integer
+from zarr.core.indexing import is_integer
 
 from zarrs._internal import ChunkItem
 
@@ -17,6 +16,8 @@
     from types import EllipsisType
 
     from zarr.abc.store import ByteGetter, ByteSetter
+    from zarr.core.array_spec import ArraySpec
+    from zarr.core.indexing import SelectorTuple
     from zarr.dtype import ZDType
 
 
@@ -170,14 +171,6 @@ def make_chunk_info_for_rust_with_indices(
         _,
     ) in batch_info:
         write_empty_chunks = chunk_spec.config.write_empty_chunks
-        if chunk_spec.fill_value is None:
-            chunk_spec = ArraySpec(
-                chunk_spec.shape,
-                chunk_spec.dtype,
-                get_implicit_fill_value(chunk_spec.dtype, chunk_spec.fill_value),
-                chunk_spec.config,
-                chunk_spec.prototype,
-            )
         out_selection_as_slices = selector_tuple_to_slice_selection(out_selection)
         chunk_selection_as_slices = selector_tuple_to_slice_selection(chunk_selection)
         shape_chunk_selection_slices = get_shape_for_selector(