diff --git a/.github/workflows/verify_kubernetes.yml b/.github/workflows/verify_kubernetes.yml
index d509e91903..33acb9dbc1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/verify_kubernetes.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/verify_kubernetes.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ jobs:
 
     env:
       CI: true
+      KUBERNETES: true
 
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/packages/backend-common/src/util/KubernetesContainerRunner.test.ts b/packages/backend-common/src/util/KubernetesContainerRunner.test.ts
index f8f21dd062..c3a53659fd 100644
--- a/packages/backend-common/src/util/KubernetesContainerRunner.test.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-common/src/util/KubernetesContainerRunner.test.ts
@@ -26,11 +26,13 @@ import {
 import { RunContainerOptions } from './ContainerRunner';
 import { PassThrough } from 'stream';
 
-const describeIfCI = Boolean(process.env.CI) ? describe : describe.skip;
+const describeIfKubernetes = Boolean(process.env.KUBERNETES)
+  ? describe
+  : describe.skip;
 
 jest.setTimeout(10 * 1000);
 
-describeIfCI('KubernetesContainerRunner', () => {
+describeIfKubernetes('KubernetesContainerRunner', () => {
   const kubeConfig = new KubeConfig();
   kubeConfig.loadFromDefault();
   const name = 'kube-runner';