diff --git a/3dfgat.yaml.j2 b/3dfgat.yaml.j2
index 64f1dbf..40f6afd 100644
--- a/3dfgat.yaml.j2
+++ b/3dfgat.yaml.j2
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ output:
 {% endif %}
 
 # Optionally test the application
-{% if test_reference_filename is defined %}
+{% if do_testing | default(false) %}
 test:
   reference filename: {{test_reference_filename}}
 {% if test_output_filename is defined %}
diff --git a/3dvar.yaml.j2 b/3dvar.yaml.j2
index 18ab01a..a96483b 100644
--- a/3dvar.yaml.j2
+++ b/3dvar.yaml.j2
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ output:
 {% endif %}
 
 # Optionally test the application
-{% if do_testing %}
+{% if do_testing | default(false) %}
 test:
   reference filename: {{test_reference_filename}}
 {% if test_output_filename is defined %}
diff --git a/local_ensemble_da.yaml.j2 b/local_ensemble_da.yaml.j2
index 0d4950d..fdc1272 100644
--- a/local_ensemble_da.yaml.j2
+++ b/local_ensemble_da.yaml.j2
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ output variance posterior:
 {% endif %}
 
 # Optionally test the application
-{% if do_testing %}
+{% if do_testing | default(false) %}
 test:
   reference filename: {{test_reference_filename}}
 {% if test_output_filename is defined %}
diff --git a/local_ensemble_da_observer.yaml.j2 b/local_ensemble_da_observer.yaml.j2
index 86e768d..019bbf4 100644
--- a/local_ensemble_da_observer.yaml.j2
+++ b/local_ensemble_da_observer.yaml.j2
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ output variance posterior:
 {% endif %}
 
 # Optionally test the application
-{% if do_testing %}
+{% if do_testing | default(false) %}
 test:
   reference filename: {{test_reference_filename}}
 {% if test_output_filename is defined %}
diff --git a/local_ensemble_da_solver.yaml.j2 b/local_ensemble_da_solver.yaml.j2
index 96ee7bc..4ba3a88 100644
--- a/local_ensemble_da_solver.yaml.j2
+++ b/local_ensemble_da_solver.yaml.j2
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ output variance posterior:
 {% endif %}
 
 # Optionally test the application
-{% if do_testing %}
+{% if do_testing | default(false) %}
 test:
   reference filename: {{test_reference_filename}}
 {% if test_output_filename is defined %}