diff --git a/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/h1_source_pbms_conga_2d.py b/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/h1_source_pbms_conga_2d.py
index cb03e4ff1..7987da785 100644
--- a/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/h1_source_pbms_conga_2d.py
+++ b/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/h1_source_pbms_conga_2d.py
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ def solve_h1_source_pbm(
 
     print('building the symbolic and discrete deRham sequences...')
     derham  = Derham(domain, ["H1", "Hcurl", "L2"])
-    derham_h = discretize(derham, domain_h, degree=degree, backend=PSYDAC_BACKENDS[backend_language])
+    derham_h = discretize(derham, domain_h, degree=degree)
 
     # multi-patch (broken) spaces
     V0h = derham_h.V0
diff --git a/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/hcurl_eigen_pbms_conga_2d.py b/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/hcurl_eigen_pbms_conga_2d.py
index 759efce0e..50fcb650a 100644
--- a/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/hcurl_eigen_pbms_conga_2d.py
+++ b/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/hcurl_eigen_pbms_conga_2d.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def hcurl_solve_eigen_pbm(nc=4, deg=4, domain_name='pretzel_f', backend_language
 
     print('building symbolic and discrete derham sequences...')
     derham  = Derham(domain, ["H1", "Hcurl", "L2"])
-    derham_h = discretize(derham, domain_h, degree=degree, backend=PSYDAC_BACKENDS[backend_language])
+    derham_h = discretize(derham, domain_h, degree=degree)
 
     V0h = derham_h.V0
     V1h = derham_h.V1
diff --git a/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/hcurl_source_pbms_conga_2d.py b/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/hcurl_source_pbms_conga_2d.py
index 8809898fe..1d186700d 100644
--- a/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/hcurl_source_pbms_conga_2d.py
+++ b/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/hcurl_source_pbms_conga_2d.py
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def solve_hcurl_source_pbm(
 
     t_stamp = time_count(t_stamp)
     print('building discrete derham sequence...')
-    derham_h = discretize(derham, domain_h, degree=degree, backend=PSYDAC_BACKENDS[backend_language])
+    derham_h = discretize(derham, domain_h, degree=degree)
 
     t_stamp = time_count(t_stamp)
     print('building commuting projection operators...')
diff --git a/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/mixed_source_pbms_conga_2d.py b/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/mixed_source_pbms_conga_2d.py
index 5fba55dc3..b367fcdef 100644
--- a/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/mixed_source_pbms_conga_2d.py
+++ b/psydac/feec/multipatch/examples/mixed_source_pbms_conga_2d.py
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def solve_magnetostatic_pbm(
 
     print('building symbolic and discrete derham sequences...')
     derham  = Derham(domain, ["H1", "Hcurl", "L2"])
-    derham_h = discretize(derham, domain_h, degree=degree, backend=PSYDAC_BACKENDS[backend_language])
+    derham_h = discretize(derham, domain_h, degree=degree)
 
     V0h = derham_h.V0
     V1h = derham_h.V1
diff --git a/psydac/feec/multipatch/tests/__init__.py b/psydac/feec/multipatch/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e69de29bb