diff --git a/pkg/testutils/db/db.go b/pkg/testutils/db/db.go
index 05fff3bce..a7e39bb67 100644
--- a/pkg/testutils/db/db.go
+++ b/pkg/testutils/db/db.go
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ func CreateManagedClusterSession(tb testing.TB, empty bool, client *scyllaclient
 		Username: user,
 		Password: pass,
 	}
-	if os.Getenv("SSL_ENABLED") != "" {
+	if os.Getenv("SSL_ENABLED") != "false" {
 		cluster.SslOpts = testconfig.CQLSSLOptions()
 		cluster.Port = testconfig.CQLPort()
 	}