diff --git a/test_runner/regress/test_wal_acceptor.py b/test_runner/regress/test_wal_acceptor.py
index 6a7c7a8bef..3c337e26aa 100644
--- a/test_runner/regress/test_wal_acceptor.py
+++ b/test_runner/regress/test_wal_acceptor.py
@@ -1450,6 +1450,7 @@ class SafekeeperEnv:
             str(i),
             "--broker-endpoint",
             self.fake_broker_endpoint,
+            "--dev",
         ]
         log.info(f'Running command "{" ".join(cmd)}"')