diff --git a/pgxn/neon/communicator/Cargo.toml b/pgxn/neon/communicator/Cargo.toml
index 40400e2b4c..d40c9a66a3 100644
--- a/pgxn/neon/communicator/Cargo.toml
+++ b/pgxn/neon/communicator/Cargo.toml
@@ -3,6 +3,9 @@ name = "communicator"
 version = "0.1.0"
 edition = "2024"
 
+[features]
+testing = []
+
 [lib]
 crate-type = ["staticlib"]
 
diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
index db3f080261..89791b979c 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
@@ -4208,6 +4208,8 @@ class Endpoint(PgProtocol, LogUtils):
         # and make tests more stable.
         config_lines = ["max_replication_write_lag=15MB"] + config_lines
 
+        config_lines = ["neon.enable_new_communicator=true"] + config_lines
+
         # Delete file cache if it exists (and we're recreating the endpoint)
         if USE_LFC:
             if (lfc_path := Path(self.lfc_path())).exists():