diff --git a/itests/kit/run.go b/itests/kit/run.go
index 713efa3b831..6903258cb70 100644
--- a/itests/kit/run.go
+++ b/itests/kit/run.go
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ import (
 // and set to value "1" to enable running expensive tests outside of CI.
 const EnvRunExpensiveTests = "LOTUS_RUN_EXPENSIVE_TESTS"
 
+// EnvRunVeryExpensiveTests is the environment variable that needs to be present
+// and set to value "1" to enable running very expensive tests outside of CI.
+// A "very expensive" test is one that is expected to take too long to run in
+// a standard CI setup, and should be skipped unless explicitly enabled.
+const EnvRunVeryExpensiveTests = "LOTUS_RUN_VERY_EXPENSIVE_TESTS"
+
 // Expensive marks a test as expensive, skipping it immediately if not running an
 func Expensive(t *testing.T) {
 	switch {
@@ -18,3 +24,10 @@ func Expensive(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Skipf("skipping expensive test outside of CI; enable by setting env var %s=1", EnvRunExpensiveTests)
 	}
 }
+
+// Expensive marks a test as expensive, skipping it immediately if not running an
+func VeryExpensive(t *testing.T) {
+	if os.Getenv(EnvRunVeryExpensiveTests) != "1" {
+		t.Skipf("skipping VERY expensive test outside of CI; enable by setting env var %s=1", EnvRunVeryExpensiveTests)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/itests/niporep_manual_test.go b/itests/niporep_manual_test.go
index e5ac41e6daa..76ea1f9696b 100644
--- a/itests/niporep_manual_test.go
+++ b/itests/niporep_manual_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestManualNISectorOnboarding(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 		t.Run(testName, func(t *testing.T) {
 			if !withMockProofs {
-				kit.Expensive(t)
+				kit.VeryExpensive(t)
 			}
 			kit.QuietMiningLogs()
 			ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())