diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml
index 6baa7e3..6460bfd 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/ci.yaml
@@ -452,6 +452,7 @@ jobs:
         run: go test -tags "${{ matrix.gotags }}" -count=1 -timeout 1800s ${{ matrix.verbose }} ${{ matrix.coverflags }} ./...
         env:
           GO_TESTING: "1"
+          DAV_SKIP_INIT: "1"
           POSTGRES_HOST: postgres
           TEST_DB_HOST: postgres
 
@@ -542,6 +543,7 @@ jobs:
         run: go test -tags "${{ matrix.gotags }}" -race -count=1 -timeout 1800s ./...
         env:
           GO_TESTING: "1"
+          DAV_SKIP_INIT: "1"
           POSTGRES_HOST: postgres
           TEST_DB_HOST: postgres
           CGO_ENABLED: "1"
diff --git a/backend/internal/dav/service_dev.go b/backend/internal/dav/service_dev.go
index 509aebe..671d7c0 100644
--- a/backend/internal/dav/service_dev.go
+++ b/backend/internal/dav/service_dev.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ var Service *BaseService
 func init() {
 	if err := connect(); err != nil {
 		// Don't fatal in test mode - tests will use testdb instead
-		if os.Getenv("GO_TESTING") != "" {
+		if os.Getenv("DAV_SKIP_INIT") != "" {
 			return
 		}
 		panic("failed to initialize dev service: " + err.Error())
diff --git a/backend/internal/dav/service_prod.go b/backend/internal/dav/service_prod.go
index 84ad4cc..bbcefa7 100644
--- a/backend/internal/dav/service_prod.go
+++ b/backend/internal/dav/service_prod.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ var Service *BaseService
 func init() {
 	if err := connect(); err != nil {
 		// Don't fatal in test mode - tests will use testdb instead
-		if os.Getenv("GO_TESTING") != "" {
+		if os.Getenv("DAV_SKIP_INIT") != "" {
 			return
 		}
 		panic("failed to initialize prod service: " + err.Error())