diff --git a/.github/workflows/system-tests-k8s.yml b/.github/workflows/system-tests-k8s.yml
index e398c13bc7b..b0cb9848c97 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/system-tests-k8s.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/system-tests-k8s.yml
@@ -80,10 +80,12 @@ jobs:
         env:
           CLOUD_CREDENTIALS_CONTENT: ${{ secrets.CLOUD_CREDENTIALS_CONTENT }}
         with:
+          # set "local" tag for k8s system tests due to rootful container image builds
           BAZEL_COMMAND: >-
             test
               --config=ci
-              --local_test_jobs=${{ env.JOBS }} --test_tag_filters=k8s,-manual,-colocated,-long_test,-system_test_hourly,-system_test_nightly --k8s
+              --config=k8s
+              --local_test_jobs=${{ env.JOBS }} --test_tag_filters=k8s,-manual,-colocated,-long_test,-system_test_hourly,-system_test_nightly
           BAZEL_TARGETS: ${{ env.TARGETS }}
           GPG_PASSPHRASE: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSPHRASE }}
 
@@ -152,10 +154,12 @@ jobs:
         env:
           CLOUD_CREDENTIALS_CONTENT: ${{ secrets.CLOUD_CREDENTIALS_CONTENT }}
         with:
+          # set "local" tag for k8s system tests due to rootful container image builds
           BAZEL_COMMAND: >-
             test
               --config=ci
-              --local_test_jobs=${{ env.JOBS }} --test_tag_filters=k8s --k8s --flaky_test_attempts=3
+              --config=k8s
+              --local_test_jobs=${{ env.JOBS }} --test_tag_filters=k8s --flaky_test_attempts=3
           BAZEL_TARGETS: ${{ env.TARGETS }}
           GPG_PASSPHRASE: ${{ secrets.GPG_PASSPHRASE }}
 
diff --git a/bazel/conf/.bazelrc.build b/bazel/conf/.bazelrc.build
index d487c0ff7cd..ffc882aa5f2 100644
--- a/bazel/conf/.bazelrc.build
+++ b/bazel/conf/.bazelrc.build
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ common --flag_alias=s3_upload=//ci/src/artifacts:s3_upload
 common --flag_alias=k8s=//rs/tests:k8s
 common --flag_alias=timeout_value=//bazel:timeout_value
 
+
+common:k8s --k8s --strategy_regexp='Testing.*'=local
+
 common:stamped --workspace_status_command='$(pwd)/bazel/workspace_status.sh --stamp'
 common:release --config=stamped --s3_upload=True
 
diff --git a/rs/tests/system_tests.bzl b/rs/tests/system_tests.bzl
index c0849b6c932..f2dda37a512 100644
--- a/rs/tests/system_tests.bzl
+++ b/rs/tests/system_tests.bzl
@@ -274,12 +274,6 @@ def system_test(
     if uses_boundary_guestos:
         icos_images["ENV_DEPS__BOUNDARY_GUESTOS_DISK_IMG"] = "//ic-os/boundary-guestos/envs/dev:disk-img.tar.zst"
 
-    # set "local" tag for k8s system tests due to rootful container image builds
-    is_k8s = select({
-        "//rs/tests:k8s": True,
-        "//conditions:default": False,
-    })
-
     run_system_test(
         name = name,
         src = test_driver_target,
@@ -288,8 +282,7 @@ def system_test(
         env = env,
         icos_images = icos_images,
         env_inherit = env_inherit,
-        tags = tags + ["requires-network", "system_test"] + (["local"] if is_k8s else []) +
-               (["manual"] if "experimental_system_test_colocation" in tags else []),
+        tags = tags + ["requires-network", "system_test"] + (["manual"] if "experimental_system_test_colocation" in tags else []),
         target_compatible_with = ["@platforms//os:linux"],
         timeout = test_timeout,
         flaky = flaky,