diff --git a/.github/actions/run-python-test-set/action.yml b/.github/actions/run-python-test-set/action.yml
index c9987053ce..fcc8983e40 100644
--- a/.github/actions/run-python-test-set/action.yml
+++ b/.github/actions/run-python-test-set/action.yml
@@ -27,6 +27,26 @@ inputs:
     description: 'Whether to upload the performance report'
     required: false
     default: 'false'
+  run_with_real_s3:
+    description: 'Whether to pass real s3 credentials to the test suite'
+    required: false
+    default: 'false'
+  real_s3_bucket:
+    description: 'Bucket name for real s3 tests'
+    required: false
+    default: ''
+  real_s3_region:
+    description: 'Region name for real s3 tests'
+    required: false
+    default: ''
+  real_s3_access_key_id:
+    description: 'Access key id'
+    required: false
+    default: ''
+  real_s3_secret_access_key:
+    description: 'Secret access key'
+    required: false
+    default: ''
 
 runs:
   using: "composite"
@@ -63,7 +83,9 @@ runs:
         # this variable will be embedded in perf test report
         # and is needed to distinguish different environments
         PLATFORM: github-actions-selfhosted
-      shell: bash -euxo pipefail {0}
+        AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: ${{ inputs.real_s3_access_key_id }}
+        AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ inputs.real_s3_secret_access_key }}
+      shell: bash -euxo pipefail {0} {0}
       run: |
         PERF_REPORT_DIR="$(realpath test_runner/perf-report-local)"
         rm -rf $PERF_REPORT_DIR
@@ -77,6 +99,14 @@ runs:
         if [[ "${{ inputs.run_in_parallel }}" == "true" ]]; then
           EXTRA_PARAMS="-n4 $EXTRA_PARAMS"
         fi
+
+        if [[ "${{ inputs.run_with_real_s3 }}" == "true" ]]; then
+          echo "REAL S3 ENABLED"
+          export ENABLE_REAL_S3_REMOTE_STORAGE=nonempty
+          export REMOTE_STORAGE_S3_BUCKET=${{ inputs.real_s3_bucket }}
+          export REMOTE_STORAGE_S3_REGION=${{ inputs.real_s3_region }}
+        fi
+
         if [[ "${{ inputs.save_perf_report }}" == "true" ]]; then
           if [[ "$GITHUB_REF" == "refs/heads/main" ]]; then
             mkdir -p "$PERF_REPORT_DIR"
diff --git a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
index ec7579a0d1..4e784f0920 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/build_and_test.yml
@@ -209,7 +209,11 @@ jobs:
           build_type: ${{ matrix.build_type }}
           rust_toolchain: ${{ matrix.rust_toolchain }}
           test_selection: batch_others
-
+          run_with_real_s3: true
+          real_s3_bucket: ci-tests-s3
+          real_s3_region: us-west-2
+          real_s3_access_key_id: "${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID_CI_TESTS_S3 }}"
+          real_s3_secret_access_key: "${{ secrets.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY_CI_TESTS_S3 }}"
       - name: Merge and upload coverage data
         if: matrix.build_type == 'debug'
         uses: ./.github/actions/save-coverage-data
diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
index 87a598b387..9b39bf2b39 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/neon_fixtures.py
@@ -457,8 +457,11 @@ class RemoteStorageKind(enum.Enum):
 
 def available_remote_storages() -> List[RemoteStorageKind]:
     remote_storages = [RemoteStorageKind.LOCAL_FS, RemoteStorageKind.MOCK_S3]
-    if os.getenv("ENABLE_REAL_S3_REMOTE_STORAGE"):
+    if os.getenv("ENABLE_REAL_S3_REMOTE_STORAGE") is not None:
         remote_storages.append(RemoteStorageKind.REAL_S3)
+        log.info("Enabling real s3 storage for tests")
+    else:
+        log.info("Using mock implementations to test remote storage")
     return remote_storages
 
 
@@ -609,7 +612,8 @@ class NeonEnvBuilder:
             region_name=mock_region,
             aws_access_key_id=self.mock_s3_server.access_key(),
             aws_secret_access_key=self.mock_s3_server.secret_key(),
-        ).create_bucket(Bucket=bucket_name)
+        )
+        self.remote_storage_client.create_bucket(Bucket=bucket_name)
 
         self.remote_storage = S3Storage(
             bucket_name=bucket_name,