diff --git a/tests/load/pipeline/test_pipelines.py b/tests/load/pipeline/test_pipelines.py
index 4cbda4f26a..872ad71d16 100644
--- a/tests/load/pipeline/test_pipelines.py
+++ b/tests/load/pipeline/test_pipelines.py
@@ -1005,7 +1005,7 @@ def table_3(make_data=False):
 
     job_client, _ = pipeline._get_destination_clients(schema)
 
-    if isinstance(job_client, WithStagingDataset):
+    if destination_config.staging and isinstance(job_client, WithStagingDataset):
         with pipeline.sql_client() as client:
             for i in range(1, 4):
                 table_name = f"table_{i}"