diff --git a/examples/ibc/ics_test.go b/examples/ibc/ics_test.go
index 9ba5d089a..14caa0f47 100644
--- a/examples/ibc/ics_test.go
+++ b/examples/ibc/ics_test.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package ibc_test
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -32,12 +33,17 @@ func TestICS(t *testing.T) {
 		icsVersions = []string{ver}
 	}
 
-	relayers := []struct {
+	type relayerTypes struct {
 		rly  ibc.RelayerImplementation
 		name string
-	}{
-		{rly: ibc.Hermes, name: "hermes"},
-		{rly: ibc.CosmosRly, name: "rly"},
+	}
+	relayers := []relayerTypes{{rly: ibc.CosmosRly, name: "rly"}}
+
+	// t / true
+	if strings.HasPrefix(os.Getenv("ICT_WITH_HERMES"), "t") {
+		// reduces test flakeyness in CI, no need to verify with Hermes
+		// we just need to confirm the ICS works as expected with respect to migrations.
+		relayers = append(relayers, relayerTypes{rly: ibc.Hermes, name: "hermes"})
 	}
 
 	for _, version := range icsVersions {