diff --git a/tests/system/_helpers.py b/tests/system/_helpers.py
index 0cb00b15ff..51a6d773c4 100644
--- a/tests/system/_helpers.py
+++ b/tests/system/_helpers.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 INSTANCE_ID = os.environ.get(INSTANCE_ID_ENVVAR, INSTANCE_ID_DEFAULT)
 
 SKIP_BACKUP_TESTS_ENVVAR = "SKIP_BACKUP_TESTS"
-SKIP_BACKUP_TESTS = True  # os.getenv(SKIP_BACKUP_TESTS_ENVVAR) == True
+SKIP_BACKUP_TESTS = os.getenv(SKIP_BACKUP_TESTS_ENVVAR) is not None
 
 INSTANCE_OPERATION_TIMEOUT_IN_SECONDS = int(
     os.getenv("SPANNER_INSTANCE_OPERATION_TIMEOUT_IN_SECONDS", 560)