diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/api-report.md b/packages/backend-test-utils/api-report.md
index 90a315f745..b791f90726 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/api-report.md
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/api-report.md
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ export interface TestBackendOptions<
   TExtensionPoints extends any[],
 > {
   // (undocumented)
-  autoStop?: boolean;
+  autoStop?: 'afterEach' | 'never';
   // (undocumented)
   extensionPoints?: readonly [
     ...{
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.test.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.test.ts
index 383a182db2..21200fe281 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.test.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.test.ts
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ describe('TestBackend', () => {
     const backend = await startTestBackend({
       services: [],
       features: [testModule()],
-      autoStop: false,
+      autoStop: 'never',
     });
 
     expect(shutdownSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
diff --git a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.ts b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.ts
index dbb4cff59a..a273e879ce 100644
--- a/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.ts
+++ b/packages/backend-test-utils/src/next/wiring/TestBackend.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export interface TestBackendOptions<
     },
   ];
   features?: BackendFeature[];
-  autoStop?: boolean;
+  autoStop?: 'afterEach' | 'never';
 }
 
 const defaultServiceFactories = [
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ export async function startTestBackend<
     services = [],
     extensionPoints = [],
     features = [],
-    autoStop = true,
+    autoStop = 'afterEach',
     ...otherOptions
   } = options;