diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index c314bcf1..d1bbbc93 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ jobs:
           - python: "3.7"
             db: mysql
           - python: "3.7"
-            ssl: ssl_enabled
+            ssl: ssl
           - python: "3.8"
             db: postgres
           - python: "3.8"
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ jobs:
               echo "MYSQL_HOST=127.0.0.1" >> $GITHUB_ENV
               echo "JUPYTERHUB_TEST_DB_URL=mysql+mysqlconnector://root@127.0.0.1:3306/jupyterhub" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           fi
-          if [ "${{ matrix.ssl }}" == "ssl_enabled" ]; then
+          if [ "${{ matrix.ssl }}" == "ssl" ]; then
               echo "SSL_ENABLED=1" >> $GITHUB_ENV
           fi
           if [ "${{ matrix.db }}" == "postgres" ]; then
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py b/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py
index 000de730..7126baa7 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/conftest.py
@@ -74,11 +74,7 @@ def ssl_tmpdir(tmpdir_factory):
 def app(request, io_loop, ssl_tmpdir):
     """Mock a jupyterhub app for testing"""
     mocked_app = None
-    if 'SSL_ENABLED' in os.environ:
-        ssl_env_var = bool(os.environ['SSL_ENABLED'])
-    else:
-        ssl_env_var = False
-    ssl_enabled = getattr(request.module, "ssl_enabled", ssl_env_var)
+    ssl_enabled = getattr(request.module, "ssl_enabled", False)
     kwargs = dict()
     if ssl_enabled:
         kwargs.update(dict(internal_ssl=True, internal_certs_location=str(ssl_tmpdir)))
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py
index fa6a20d1..7bedbb2c 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_api.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """Tests for the REST API."""
 import json
+import os
 import re
 import sys
 import uuid
@@ -27,7 +28,7 @@ from .utils import async_requests
 from .utils import auth_header
 from .utils import find_user
 
-
+ssl_enabled = os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False)
 # --------------------
 # Authentication tests
 # --------------------
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_app.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_app.py
index accdd430..47d23a6a 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_app.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_app.py
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ from ..app import JupyterHub
 from .mocking import MockHub
 from .test_api import add_user
 
+ssl_enabled = os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False)
+
 
 def test_help_all():
     out = check_output([sys.executable, '-m', 'jupyterhub', '--help-all']).decode(
diff --git a/jupyterhub/tests/test_spawner.py b/jupyterhub/tests/test_spawner.py
index 99b84393..d7bc1301 100644
--- a/jupyterhub/tests/test_spawner.py
+++ b/jupyterhub/tests/test_spawner.py
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ while True:
     except KeyboardInterrupt:
         print("interrupted")
 """
+import os
+
+ssl_enabled = os.environ.get('SSL_ENABLED', False)
 
 
 def setup():