diff --git a/.github/workflows/selfdrive_tests.yaml b/.github/workflows/selfdrive_tests.yaml
index f28d86228..03dd4f468 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/selfdrive_tests.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/selfdrive_tests.yaml
@@ -244,7 +244,8 @@ jobs:
       run: eval "$BUILD"
     - name: Run unit tests
       run: |
-        ${{ env.RUN }} "scons -j$(nproc) --test && \
+        ${{ env.RUN }} "export SKIP_LONG_TESTS=1 && \
+                        scons -j$(nproc) --test && \
                         $UNIT_TEST common && \
                         $UNIT_TEST opendbc/can && \
                         $UNIT_TEST selfdrive/boardd && \
diff --git a/selfdrive/car/tests/test_models.py b/selfdrive/car/tests/test_models.py
index 9b1660899..bbb797498 100755
--- a/selfdrive/car/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/selfdrive/car/tests/test_models.py
@@ -43,11 +43,13 @@ for i, c in enumerate(sorted(all_known_cars())):
   if i % NUM_JOBS == JOB_ID:
     test_cases.extend((c, r) for r in routes_by_car.get(c, (None, )))
 
+SKIP_ENV_VAR = "SKIP_LONG_TESTS"
+
 
 @parameterized_class(('car_model', 'route'), test_cases)
 class TestCarModel(unittest.TestCase):
 
-  @unittest.skipUnless(__name__ == "__main__", "Long running test. Run individually.")
+  @unittest.skipIf(SKIP_ENV_VAR in os.environ, f"Long running test skipped. Unset {SKIP_ENV_VAR} to run")
   @classmethod
   def setUpClass(cls):
     if cls.route is None: