diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
index 3bef6b0a3..a625bb0fb 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yaml
@@ -251,6 +251,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: run integration tests
       run: make test.integration
       env:
+        KONG_TEST_DISABLE_CERTMANAGER: "true"
         WEBHOOK_ENABLED: ${{ matrix.webhook-enabled }}
         KONG_CONTROLLER_OUT: stdout
         GOTESTSUM_JUNITFILE: integration-tests-webhook-enabled-${{ matrix.webhook-enabled }}.xml
@@ -302,6 +303,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: run integration tests
       run: make test.integration_bluegreen
       env:
+        KONG_TEST_DISABLE_CERTMANAGER: "true"
         WEBHOOK_ENABLED: ${{ matrix.webhook-enabled }}
         KONG_CONTROLLER_OUT: stdout
         GOTESTSUM_JUNITFILE: integration-tests-bluegreen-webhook-enabled-${{ matrix.webhook-enabled }}.xml
@@ -338,8 +340,6 @@ jobs:
     steps:
     - name: checkout repository
       uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      with:
-        fetch-depth: 0
 
     - name: setup golang
       uses: actions/setup-go@v5
@@ -353,6 +353,7 @@ jobs:
     - name: run integration tests
       run: make test.integration_provision_dataplane_fail
       env:
+        KONG_TEST_DISABLE_CERTMANAGER: "true"
         KONG_CONTROLLER_OUT: stdout
         GOTESTSUM_JUNITFILE: integration-tests-provision-dataplane-fail.xml
         GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
diff --git a/test/conformance/suite_test.go b/test/conformance/suite_test.go
index 8dffb1953..25c071780 100644
--- a/test/conformance/suite_test.go
+++ b/test/conformance/suite_test.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/modules/manager"
 	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/modules/manager/scheme"
 	testutils "github.com/kong/gateway-operator/pkg/utils/test"
+	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/test"
 )
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -80,7 +81,9 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	// that would allow e.g. cross namespace traffic.
 	// Related upstream discussion: https://github.com/kubernetes-sigs/gateway-api/discussions/2137
 	env, err = testutils.BuildEnvironment(ctx, existingCluster, func(b *environments.Builder, t clusters.Type) {
-		b.WithAddons(metallb.New())
+		if !test.DisableMetalLB {
+			b.WithAddons(metallb.New())
+		}
 	})
 	exitOnErr(err)
 
diff --git a/test/e2e/environment.go b/test/e2e/environment.go
index 898b13f3d..09daf58d8 100644
--- a/test/e2e/environment.go
+++ b/test/e2e/environment.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/internal/versions"
 	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/pkg/clientset"
 	testutils "github.com/kong/gateway-operator/pkg/utils/test"
+	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/test"
 	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/test/helpers"
 )
 
@@ -147,27 +148,37 @@ func CreateEnvironment(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, opts ...TestEnvOption)
 			cluster, err := kind.NewFromExisting(clusterName)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			builder.WithExistingCluster(cluster)
-			builder.WithAddons(metallb.New())
-			builder.WithAddons(certmanager.New())
+
+			if !test.DisableCertManager {
+				builder.WithAddons(certmanager.New())
+			}
+			if !test.DisableMetalLB {
+				builder.WithAddons(metallb.New())
+			}
 		case string(gke.GKEClusterType):
 			cluster, err := gke.NewFromExistingWithEnv(ctx, clusterName)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
 			builder.WithExistingCluster(cluster)
-			builder.WithAddons(certmanager.New())
+			if !test.DisableCertManager {
+				builder.WithAddons(certmanager.New())
+			}
 		default:
 			t.Fatal(fmt.Errorf("unknown cluster type: %s", clusterType))
 		}
 	} else {
 		t.Log("no existing cluster found, deploying using Kubernetes In Docker (KIND)")
-		builder.WithAddons(metallb.New())
-		builder.WithAddons(certmanager.New())
+		if !test.DisableCertManager {
+			builder.WithAddons(certmanager.New())
+		}
+		if !test.DisableMetalLB {
+			builder.WithAddons(metallb.New())
+		}
 	}
 	if imageLoad != "" {
 		imageLoader, err := loadimage.NewBuilder().WithImage(imageLoad)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		t.Logf("loading image: %s", imageLoad)
 		builder.WithAddons(imageLoader.Build())
-		builder.WithAddons(certmanager.New())
 	}
 
 	if len(opt.Image) == 0 {
diff --git a/test/envvars.go b/test/envvars.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bf70a5d05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/envvars.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package test
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+var (
+	// DisableCalicoCNI is a flag to disable the Calico CNI plugin in the test environment.
+	DisableCalicoCNI = strings.ToLower(os.Getenv("KONG_TEST_DISABLE_CALICO")) == "true"
+	// DisableCertManager is a flag to disable the CertManager in the test environment.
+	DisableCertManager = strings.ToLower(os.Getenv("KONG_TEST_DISABLE_CERTMANAGER")) == "true"
+	// DisableMetalLB is a flag to disable the MetalLB in the test environment.
+	DisableMetalLB = strings.ToLower(os.Getenv("KONG_TEST_DISABLE_METALLB")) == "true"
+)
diff --git a/test/integration/suite.go b/test/integration/suite.go
index 1a3b55ae7..d03e8c675 100644
--- a/test/integration/suite.go
+++ b/test/integration/suite.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/config"
 	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/modules/manager"
 	testutils "github.com/kong/gateway-operator/pkg/utils/test"
+	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/test"
 	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/test/helpers"
 	"github.com/kong/gateway-operator/test/helpers/certificate"
 )
@@ -40,9 +41,6 @@ var (
 	webhookServerIP      = os.Getenv("GATEWAY_OPERATOR_WEBHOOK_IP")
 	bluegreenController  = strings.ToLower(os.Getenv("GATEWAY_OPERATOR_BLUEGREEN_CONTROLLER")) == "true"
 	webhookServerPort    = 9443
-	disableCalicoCNI     = strings.ToLower(os.Getenv("KONG_TEST_DISABLE_CALICO")) == "true"
-	disableCertManager   = strings.ToLower(os.Getenv("KONG_TEST_DISABLE_CERTMANAGER")) == "true"
-	disableMetalLB       = strings.ToLower(os.Getenv("KONG_TEST_DISABLE_METALLB")) == "true"
 )
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -124,13 +122,13 @@ func TestMain(
 	fmt.Println("INFO: configuring cluster for testing environment")
 	env, err = testutils.BuildEnvironment(GetCtx(), existingCluster,
 		func(b *environments.Builder, ct clusters.Type) {
-			if !disableCalicoCNI {
+			if !test.DisableCalicoCNI {
 				b.WithCalicoCNI()
 			}
-			if !disableCertManager {
+			if !test.DisableCertManager {
 				b.WithAddons(certmanager.New())
 			}
-			if !disableMetalLB && ct == kind.KindClusterType {
+			if !test.DisableMetalLB && ct == kind.KindClusterType {
 				b.WithAddons(metallb.New())
 			}
 		},