diff --git a/tests/functional/adapter/test_external.py b/tests/functional/adapter/test_external.py
index 410e6e37..bbfa085b 100644
--- a/tests/functional/adapter/test_external.py
+++ b/tests/functional/adapter/test_external.py
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ def extroot(self, tmp_path_factory, dest):
         return extroot
 
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class")
-    def dbt_profile_target(self, dbt_profile_target, extroot):
+    def dbt_profile_target(self, profile_type, dbt_profile_target, extroot):
         dbt_profile_target["external_root"] = extroot
         dbt_profile_target["secrets"] = [
             {
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ def dbt_profile_target(self, dbt_profile_target, extroot):
                 "secret": os.getenv("S3_MD_ORG_SECRET"),
             }
         ]
+        if profile_type == "md":
+            dbt_profile_target["secrets"][0]["persistent"] = True
         return dbt_profile_target
 
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class")