diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yaml b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
index d20be46..a0dd2b1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ env:
   YC_DEMO_REGISTRY_ID: ${{ vars.YC_DEMO_REGISTRY_ID }}
   HELM_CHART_VERSION: ${{ vars.HELM_CHART_VERSION }}
   CONTOUR: testing
+  EXCLUDE_NOTEBOOKS: ${{ vars.EXCLUDE_NOTEBOOKS }}
 jobs:
   start-vm:
     name: Start VM
@@ -92,8 +93,11 @@ jobs:
 
           export PYTHONPATH="${PYTHONPATH}:$(pwd)"
           pytest -rA  --log-cli-level=INFO --log-level=INFO tests/*
-          POD_NAME=$(kubectl -n ${namespace} get pods --selector=name=jupyterlab -o=name)
-          kubectl -n ${namespace} exec -it $POD_NAME -- pytest /home/jovyan/test.py
+
+          kubectl -n ${namespace} set env sts/jupyterlab EXCLUDE_NOTEBOOKS="${EXCLUDE_NOTEBOOKS}"
+          sleep 15
+          JUPYTER_POD_NAME=$(kubectl -n ${namespace} get pods --selector=name=jupyterlab -o=name)
+          kubectl -n ${namespace} exec -it $JUPYTER_POD_NAME -- pytest /home/jovyan/test.py
           
   clean-up:
     name: Clean up