diff --git a/test_runner/fixtures/parametrize.py b/test_runner/fixtures/parametrize.py
index 07f7b1246c..c8ab550ad7 100644
--- a/test_runner/fixtures/parametrize.py
+++ b/test_runner/fixtures/parametrize.py
@@ -48,8 +48,11 @@ def pytest_generate_tests(metafunc: Metafunc):
 
     # A hacky way to parametrize tests only for `pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine=std-fs`
     # And do not change test name for default `pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine=tokio-epoll-uring` to keep tests statistics
-    io_engine = os.getenv("PAGESERVER_VIRTUAL_FILE_IO_ENGINE", "std-fs")
-    metafunc.parametrize("pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine", [io_engine])
+    if (io_engine := os.getenv("PAGESERVER_VIRTUAL_FILE_IO_ENGINE", "")) not in (
+        "",
+        "tokio-epoll-uring",
+    ):
+        metafunc.parametrize("pageserver_virtual_file_io_engine", [io_engine])
 
     # For performance tests, parametrize also by platform
     if (