diff --git a/doc/changelog.d/4250.test.md b/doc/changelog.d/4250.test.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..30d1772c015
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/changelog.d/4250.test.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Skip database tests based on TEST_DB environment variable
diff --git a/tests/test_database.py b/tests/test_database.py
index 7cb8440eaea..8018d84df54 100644
--- a/tests/test_database.py
+++ b/tests/test_database.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 # OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 # SOFTWARE.
 
+import os
 import re
 
 from ansys.tools.versioning import server_meets_version
@@ -34,6 +35,8 @@
 
 SKIP_ON_VERSIONS = ["22.2", "23.1", "23.2", "24.1", "24.2", "25.1", "25.2"]
 
+TEST_DB = os.getenv("TEST_DB", "false").lower() == "true"
+
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 def db(mapdl):
@@ -62,6 +65,9 @@ def db(mapdl):
             f"This version of MAPDL gRPC API version ('ansys.api.mapdl' == {ver_}) is not compatible with 'database' module."
         )
 
+    if not TEST_DB:
+        pytest.skip("Database tests are skipped")
+
     mapdl.clear()
     if mapdl.db.active or mapdl.db._stub is None:
         mapdl.db.stop()
@@ -94,6 +100,9 @@ def test_database_start_stop(mapdl, cleared):
             f"This MAPDL version ({mapdl_version}) docker image seems to not support DB, but local does."
         )
 
+    if not TEST_DB:
+        pytest.skip("Database tests are skipped")
+
     if MapdlDb(mapdl).active:
         MapdlDb(mapdl)._stop()