diff --git a/samples/system-test/spanner.test.js b/samples/system-test/spanner.test.js
index 43f56b7d9..3f7e0c8b0 100644
--- a/samples/system-test/spanner.test.js
+++ b/samples/system-test/spanner.test.js
@@ -92,6 +92,8 @@ const KEY_RING_ID = 'test-key-ring-node';
 const KEY_ID = 'test-key';
 const DEFAULT_LEADER = 'us-central1';
 const DEFAULT_LEADER_2 = 'us-east1';
+const SKIP_BACKUPS = process.env.SKIP_BACKUPS;
+const KOKORO_JOB_NAME = process.env.KOKORO_JOB_NAME;
 
 const spanner = new Spanner({
   projectId: PROJECT_ID,
@@ -1362,253 +1364,265 @@ describe('Autogenerated Admin Clients', () => {
     );
   });
 
-  it('shoud create a full backup schedule', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `node create-full-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} full-backup-schedule`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, new RegExp('Created full backup schedule'));
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(
-        `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/full-backup-schedule`,
-      ),
-    );
-  });
-
-  it('shoud create an incremental backup schedule', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `node create-incremental-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} incremental-backup-schedule`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, new RegExp('Created incremental backup schedule'));
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(
-        `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/incremental-backup-schedule`,
-      ),
-    );
-  });
+  describe('backups', async () => {
+    before(async function () {
+      if (
+        SKIP_BACKUPS === 'true' ||
+        (KOKORO_JOB_NAME && KOKORO_JOB_NAME.includes('presubmit'))
+      ) {
+        this.skip();
+      }
+    });
 
-  it('shoud list backup schedules', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `node list-backup-schedules.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(
-        `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/full-backup-schedule`,
-      ),
-    );
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(
-        `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/incremental-backup-schedule`,
-      ),
-    );
-  });
+    it('shoud create a full backup schedule', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `node create-full-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} full-backup-schedule`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, new RegExp('Created full backup schedule'));
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(
+          `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/full-backup-schedule`,
+        ),
+      );
+    });
 
-  it('shoud get a backup schedule', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `node get-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} full-backup-schedule`,
-    );
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(
-        `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/full-backup-schedule`,
-      ),
-    );
-  });
+    it('shoud create an incremental backup schedule', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `node create-incremental-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} incremental-backup-schedule`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, new RegExp('Created incremental backup schedule'));
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(
+          `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/incremental-backup-schedule`,
+        ),
+      );
+    });
 
-  it('shoud update a backup schedule', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `node update-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} full-backup-schedule`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, new RegExp('Updated backup schedule'));
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(
-        `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/full-backup-schedule`,
-      ),
-    );
-  });
+    it('shoud list backup schedules', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `node list-backup-schedules.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(
+          `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/full-backup-schedule`,
+        ),
+      );
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(
+          `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/incremental-backup-schedule`,
+        ),
+      );
+    });
 
-  it('shoud delete a backup schedule', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `node delete-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} full-backup-schedule`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, new RegExp('Deleted backup schedule'));
-  });
+    it('shoud get a backup schedule', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `node get-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} full-backup-schedule`,
+      );
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(
+          `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/full-backup-schedule`,
+        ),
+      );
+    });
 
-  // create_backup
-  it('should create a backup of the database', async () => {
-    const instance = spanner.instance(INSTANCE_ID);
-    const database = instance.database(DATABASE_ID);
-    const query = {
-      sql: 'SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP() as Timestamp',
-    };
-    const [rows] = await database.run(query);
-    const versionTime = rows[0].toJSON().Timestamp.toISOString();
+    it('shoud update a backup schedule', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `node update-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} full-backup-schedule`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, new RegExp('Updated backup schedule'));
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(
+          `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/databases/${DATABASE_ID}/backupSchedules/full-backup-schedule`,
+        ),
+      );
+    });
 
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} createBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID} ${versionTime}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, new RegExp(`Backup (.+)${BACKUP_ID} of size`));
-  });
+    it('shoud delete a backup schedule', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `node delete-backup-schedule.js ${PROJECT_ID} ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} full-backup-schedule`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, new RegExp('Deleted backup schedule'));
+    });
 
-  // create_backup_with_encryption_key
-  it('should create an encrypted backup of the database', async () => {
-    const key = await getCryptoKey(KEY_LOCATION_ID1);
+    // create_backup
+    it('should create a backup of the database', async () => {
+      const instance = spanner.instance(INSTANCE_ID);
+      const database = instance.database(DATABASE_ID);
+      const query = {
+        sql: 'SELECT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP() as Timestamp',
+      };
+      const [rows] = await database.run(query);
+      const versionTime = rows[0].toJSON().Timestamp.toISOString();
 
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} createBackupWithEncryptionKey ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${ENCRYPTED_BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID} ${key.name}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(`Backup (.+)${ENCRYPTED_BACKUP_ID} of size`),
-    );
-    assert.include(output, `using encryption key ${key.name}`);
-  });
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} createBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID} ${versionTime}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, new RegExp(`Backup (.+)${BACKUP_ID} of size`));
+    });
 
-  // copy_backup
-  it('should create a copy of a backup', async () => {
-    const sourceBackupPath = `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/backups/${BACKUP_ID}`;
-    const output = execSync(
-      `node backups-copy.js ${INSTANCE_ID} ${COPY_BACKUP_ID} ${sourceBackupPath} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(`(.*)Backup copy(.*)${COPY_BACKUP_ID} of size(.*)`),
-    );
-  });
+    // create_backup_with_encryption_key
+    it('should create an encrypted backup of the database', async () => {
+      const key = await getCryptoKey(KEY_LOCATION_ID1);
 
-  // cancel_backup
-  it('should cancel a backup of the database', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} cancelBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${CANCELLED_BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, /Backup cancelled./);
-  });
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} createBackupWithEncryptionKey ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${ENCRYPTED_BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID} ${key.name}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(`Backup (.+)${ENCRYPTED_BACKUP_ID} of size`),
+      );
+      assert.include(output, `using encryption key ${key.name}`);
+    });
 
-  // get_backups
-  it('should list backups in the instance', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} getBackups ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
-    );
-    assert.include(output, 'All backups:');
-    assert.include(output, 'Backups matching backup name:');
-    assert.include(output, 'Backups expiring within 30 days:');
-    assert.include(output, 'Backups matching database name:');
-    assert.include(output, 'Backups filtered by size:');
-    assert.include(output, 'Ready backups filtered by create time:');
-    assert.include(output, 'Get backups paginated:');
-    const count = (output.match(new RegExp(`${BACKUP_ID}`, 'g')) || []).length;
-    assert.equal(count, 14);
-  });
+    // copy_backup
+    it('should create a copy of a backup', async () => {
+      const sourceBackupPath = `projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances/${INSTANCE_ID}/backups/${BACKUP_ID}`;
+      const output = execSync(
+        `node backups-copy.js ${INSTANCE_ID} ${COPY_BACKUP_ID} ${sourceBackupPath} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(`(.*)Backup copy(.*)${COPY_BACKUP_ID} of size(.*)`),
+      );
+    });
 
-  // list_backup_operations
-  it('should list backup operations in the instance', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} getBackupOperations ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, /Create Backup Operations:/);
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(`Backup (.+)${BACKUP_ID} (.+) is 100% complete`),
-    );
-    assert.match(output, /Copy Backup Operations:/);
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(`Backup (.+)${COPY_BACKUP_ID} (.+) is 100% complete`),
-    );
-  });
+    // cancel_backup
+    it('should cancel a backup of the database', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} cancelBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${CANCELLED_BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, /Backup cancelled./);
+    });
 
-  // update_backup_expire_time
-  it('should update the expire time of a backup', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} updateBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, /Expire time updated./);
-  });
+    // get_backups
+    it('should list backups in the instance', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} getBackups ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
+      );
+      assert.include(output, 'All backups:');
+      assert.include(output, 'Backups matching backup name:');
+      assert.include(output, 'Backups expiring within 30 days:');
+      assert.include(output, 'Backups matching database name:');
+      assert.include(output, 'Backups filtered by size:');
+      assert.include(output, 'Ready backups filtered by create time:');
+      assert.include(output, 'Get backups paginated:');
+      const count = (output.match(new RegExp(`${BACKUP_ID}`, 'g')) || [])
+        .length;
+      assert.equal(count, 14);
+    });
+
+    // list_backup_operations
+    it('should list backup operations in the instance', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} getBackupOperations ${INSTANCE_ID} ${DATABASE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, /Create Backup Operations:/);
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(`Backup (.+)${BACKUP_ID} (.+) is 100% complete`),
+      );
+      assert.match(output, /Copy Backup Operations:/);
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(`Backup (.+)${COPY_BACKUP_ID} (.+) is 100% complete`),
+      );
+    });
 
-  // restore_backup
-  it('should restore database from a backup', async function () {
-    // Restoring a backup can be a slow operation so the test may timeout and
-    // we'll have to retry.
-    this.retries(5);
-    // Delay the start of the test, if this is a retry.
-    await delay(this.test, async () => {
-      await cleanupDatabase(INSTANCE_ID, RESTORE_DATABASE_ID);
+    // update_backup_expire_time
+    it('should update the expire time of a backup', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} updateBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, /Expire time updated./);
     });
 
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} restoreBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, /Database restored from backup./);
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(
-        `Database (.+) was restored to ${RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} from backup ` +
-          `(.+)${BACKUP_ID} with version time (.+)`,
-      ),
-    );
-  });
+    // restore_backup
+    it('should restore database from a backup', async function () {
+      // Restoring a backup can be a slow operation so the test may timeout and
+      // we'll have to retry.
+      this.retries(5);
+      // Delay the start of the test, if this is a retry.
+      await delay(this.test, async () => {
+        await cleanupDatabase(INSTANCE_ID, RESTORE_DATABASE_ID);
+      });
 
-  // restore_backup_with_encryption_key
-  it('should restore database from a backup using an encryption key', async function () {
-    // Restoring a backup can be a slow operation so the test may timeout and
-    // we'll have to retry.
-    this.retries(5);
-    // Delay the start of the test, if this is a retry.
-    await delay(this.test, async () => {
-      await cleanupDatabase(INSTANCE_ID, ENCRYPTED_RESTORE_DATABASE_ID);
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} restoreBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, /Database restored from backup./);
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(
+          `Database (.+) was restored to ${RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} from backup ` +
+            `(.+)${BACKUP_ID} with version time (.+)`,
+        ),
+      );
     });
 
-    const key = await getCryptoKey(KEY_LOCATION_ID1);
+    // restore_backup_with_encryption_key
+    it('should restore database from a backup using an encryption key', async function () {
+      // Restoring a backup can be a slow operation so the test may timeout and
+      // we'll have to retry.
+      this.retries(5);
+      // Delay the start of the test, if this is a retry.
+      await delay(this.test, async () => {
+        await cleanupDatabase(INSTANCE_ID, ENCRYPTED_RESTORE_DATABASE_ID);
+      });
 
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} restoreBackupWithEncryptionKey ${INSTANCE_ID} ${ENCRYPTED_RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} ${ENCRYPTED_BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID} ${key.name}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, /Database restored from backup./);
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(
-        `Database (.+) was restored to ${ENCRYPTED_RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} from backup ` +
-          `(.+)${ENCRYPTED_BACKUP_ID} using encryption key ${key.name}`,
-      ),
-    );
-  });
+      const key = await getCryptoKey(KEY_LOCATION_ID1);
 
-  // list_database_operations
-  it('should list database operations in the instance', async () => {
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} getDatabaseOperations ${INSTANCE_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, /Optimize Database Operations:/);
-    assert.match(
-      output,
-      new RegExp(
-        `Database (.+)${RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} restored from backup is (\\d+)% ` +
-          'optimized',
-      ),
-    );
-  });
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} restoreBackupWithEncryptionKey ${INSTANCE_ID} ${ENCRYPTED_RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} ${ENCRYPTED_BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID} ${key.name}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, /Database restored from backup./);
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(
+          `Database (.+) was restored to ${ENCRYPTED_RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} from backup ` +
+            `(.+)${ENCRYPTED_BACKUP_ID} using encryption key ${key.name}`,
+        ),
+      );
+    });
 
-  // delete_backup
-  it('should delete a backup', async () => {
-    function sleep(timeMillis) {
-      return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, timeMillis));
-    }
+    // list_database_operations
+    it('should list database operations in the instance', async () => {
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} getDatabaseOperations ${INSTANCE_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, /Optimize Database Operations:/);
+      assert.match(
+        output,
+        new RegExp(
+          `Database (.+)${RESTORE_DATABASE_ID} restored from backup is (\\d+)% ` +
+            'optimized',
+        ),
+      );
+    });
 
-    // Wait for database to finish optimizing - cannot delete a backup if a database restored from it
-    const instance = spanner.instance(INSTANCE_ID);
-    const database = instance.database(RESTORE_DATABASE_ID);
-    while ((await database.getState()) === 'READY_OPTIMIZING') {
-      await sleep(1000);
-    }
+    // delete_backup
+    it('should delete a backup', async () => {
+      function sleep(timeMillis) {
+        return new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, timeMillis));
+      }
 
-    const output = execSync(
-      `${backupsCmd} deleteBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
-    );
-    assert.match(output, /Backup deleted./);
+      // Wait for database to finish optimizing - cannot delete a backup if a database restored from it
+      const instance = spanner.instance(INSTANCE_ID);
+      const database = instance.database(RESTORE_DATABASE_ID);
+      while ((await database.getState()) === 'READY_OPTIMIZING') {
+        await sleep(1000);
+      }
+
+      const output = execSync(
+        `${backupsCmd} deleteBackup ${INSTANCE_ID} ${BACKUP_ID} ${PROJECT_ID}`,
+      );
+      assert.match(output, /Backup deleted./);
+    });
   });
 
   // custom_timeout_and_retry
@@ -2426,7 +2440,15 @@ describe('Autogenerated Admin Clients', () => {
     const MR_CMEK_RESTORED = `test-mr-${CURRENT_TIME}-restored`;
     let instance_already_exists = false;
     let key1, key2, key3;
-    before(async () => {
+    let shouldCleanup = false;
+    before(async function () {
+      if (
+        SKIP_BACKUPS === 'true' ||
+        (KOKORO_JOB_NAME && KOKORO_JOB_NAME.includes('presubmit'))
+      ) {
+        this.skip();
+      }
+      shouldCleanup = true;
       // Create multiple KMS keys covering `nam3`.
       key1 = await getCryptoKey(KEY_LOCATION_ID1);
       key2 = await getCryptoKey(KEY_LOCATION_ID2);
@@ -2456,6 +2478,9 @@ describe('Autogenerated Admin Clients', () => {
     });
 
     after(async () => {
+      if (!shouldCleanup) {
+        return;
+      }
       const instance = spanner.instance(MULTI_REGION_INSTANCE_ID);
       const restored_db = instance.database(MR_CMEK_RESTORED);
       function sleep(timeMillis) {