diff --git a/solutions/standard/catalogValidationValues.json.template b/solutions/standard/catalogValidationValues.json.template
index 7d1d7463..069d9f92 100644
--- a/solutions/standard/catalogValidationValues.json.template
+++ b/solutions/standard/catalogValidationValues.json.template
@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@
   "ibmcloud_api_key": $VALIDATION_APIKEY,
   "resource_group_name": $PREFIX,
   "service_plan": "trial",
-  "existing_kms_instance_crn": $HPCS_US_SOUTH_CRN
+  "existing_kms_instance_crn": $HPCS_US_SOUTH_CRN,
+  "region": "ca-tor"
 }
diff --git a/tests/pr_test.go b/tests/pr_test.go
index f0bbfcd3..d5ea0a1a 100644
--- a/tests/pr_test.go
+++ b/tests/pr_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ var permanentResources map[string]interface{}
 
 // Current supported Event Notification regions
 var validRegions = []string{
-	"us-south",
+	// "us-south", # do not run secrets manager tests in us regions
 	"eu-de",
 	"eu-gb",
 	"au-syd",