diff --git a/classes/local/store/digitalocean/client.php b/classes/local/store/digitalocean/client.php
index 226636d6..f7946d34 100644
--- a/classes/local/store/digitalocean/client.php
+++ b/classes/local/store/digitalocean/client.php
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ class client extends s3_client {
     public function __construct($config) {
         global $CFG;
         $this->autoloader = $CFG->dirroot . '/local/aws/sdk/aws-autoloader.php';
-        $this->testdelete = false;
 
         if ($this->get_availability() && !empty($config)) {
             require_once($this->autoloader);
diff --git a/classes/local/store/object_client.php b/classes/local/store/object_client.php
index 9121a824..e4a2b0d4 100644
--- a/classes/local/store/object_client.php
+++ b/classes/local/store/object_client.php
@@ -137,6 +137,11 @@ public function proxy_range_request(\stored_file $file, $ranges);
      */
     public function test_range_request($filesystem);
 
+    /**
+     * If should test deletion as part of testing connection.
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    public function should_test_delete(): bool;
 }
 
 
diff --git a/classes/local/store/object_client_base.php b/classes/local/store/object_client_base.php
index 4f03418d..1dfa02f3 100644
--- a/classes/local/store/object_client_base.php
+++ b/classes/local/store/object_client_base.php
@@ -38,10 +38,6 @@ abstract class object_client_base implements object_client {
      * @var mixed
      */
     protected $expirationtime;
-    /**
-     * @var bool
-     */
-    protected $testdelete = true;
     /**
      * @var int
      */
@@ -57,6 +53,15 @@ abstract class object_client_base implements object_client {
     /** @var object $config Client config. */
     protected $config;
 
+    /**
+     * If deletion should be tested.
+     * Only tested when the deleteexternal setting is not set to 'no'
+     * @return bool
+     */
+    public function should_test_delete(): bool {
+        return !empty($this->config) && $this->config->deleteexternal != TOOL_OBJECTFS_DELETE_EXTERNAL_NO;
+    }
+
     /**
      * construct
      * @param \stdClass $config
@@ -120,7 +125,7 @@ public function define_client_check() {
         if ($connection->success) {
             $output .= $OUTPUT->notification(get_string('settings:connectionsuccess', 'tool_objectfs'), 'notifysuccess');
             // Check permissions if we can connect.
-            $permissions = $this->test_permissions($this->testdelete);
+            $permissions = $this->test_permissions($this->should_test_delete());
             if ($permissions->success) {
                 $output .= $OUTPUT->notification(key($permissions->messages), 'notifysuccess');
             } else {
diff --git a/classes/local/store/s3/client.php b/classes/local/store/s3/client.php
index a6e2598e..23c495af 100644
--- a/classes/local/store/s3/client.php
+++ b/classes/local/store/s3/client.php
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ public function define_client_check_sdk($config) {
             if ($connection->success) {
                 $output .= $OUTPUT->notification(get_string('settings:aws:sdkcredsok', 'tool_objectfs'), 'notifysuccess');
                 // Check permissions if we can connect.
-                $permissions = $this->test_permissions($this->testdelete);
+                $permissions = $this->test_permissions($this->should_test_delete());
                 if ($permissions->success) {
                     $output .= $OUTPUT->notification(key($permissions->messages), 'notifysuccess');
                 } else {