diff --git a/test/e2e/e2e_test.go b/test/e2e/e2e_test.go
index 0d58b5ff..7bbab05d 100644
--- a/test/e2e/e2e_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/e2e_test.go
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ func initTestEnv(t *testing.T) *env {
 	e.testOrgRepo = testing.Getenv(t, "TEST_ORG_REPO", "")
 	e.testEnterprise = testing.Getenv(t, "TEST_ENTERPRISE")
 	e.testJobs = createTestJobs(id, testResultCMNamePrefix, 100)
-	ephemeral, _ := strconv.ParseBool(testing.Getenv(t, "TEST_FEATURE_FLAG_EPHEMERAL"))
+	ephemeral, _ := strconv.ParseBool(testing.Getenv(t, "TEST_FEATURE_FLAG_EPHEMERAL", ""))
 	e.featureFlagEphemeral = ephemeral
 	e.scaleDownDelaySecondsAfterScaleOut, _ = strconv.ParseInt(testing.Getenv(t, "TEST_RUNNER_SCALE_DOWN_DELAY_SECONDS_AFTER_SCALE_OUT", "10"), 10, 32)
 	e.minReplicas, _ = strconv.ParseInt(testing.Getenv(t, "TEST_RUNNER_MIN_REPLICAS", "1"), 10, 32)