diff --git a/ci-operator/config/openshift/hypershift/openshift-hypershift-main.yaml b/ci-operator/config/openshift/hypershift/openshift-hypershift-main.yaml
index 845c2adeb7b5f..14208669d3396 100644
--- a/ci-operator/config/openshift/hypershift/openshift-hypershift-main.yaml
+++ b/ci-operator/config/openshift/hypershift/openshift-hypershift-main.yaml
@@ -321,6 +321,7 @@ tests:
     env:
       ENABLE_HYPERSHIFT_CERT_ROTATION_SCALE: "true"
       REQUEST_SERVING_COMPONENT_TEST: "true"
+      RUN_KARPENTER_TESTS: "true"
     workflow: hypershift-aws-e2e-nested
 - always_run: false
   as: e2e-kubevirt-aws-ovn-reduced
diff --git a/ci-operator/step-registry/hypershift/aws/run-e2e/nested/hypershift-aws-run-e2e-nested-ref.yaml b/ci-operator/step-registry/hypershift/aws/run-e2e/nested/hypershift-aws-run-e2e-nested-ref.yaml
index d09ac24a1f639..8c0acb13662ed 100644
--- a/ci-operator/step-registry/hypershift/aws/run-e2e/nested/hypershift-aws-run-e2e-nested-ref.yaml
+++ b/ci-operator/step-registry/hypershift/aws/run-e2e/nested/hypershift-aws-run-e2e-nested-ref.yaml
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ ref:
       name: MGMT_PARENT_KUBECONFIG
     - default: "false"
       name: REQUEST_SERVING_COMPONENT_TEST
+    - default: "false"
+      name: RUN_KARPENTER_TESTS
     - default: "false"
       name: RUN_UPGRADE_TEST
     - default: "0"