diff --git a/python/pyspark/testing/connectutils.py b/python/pyspark/testing/connectutils.py
index bfe54b33f569..da6b861e925a 100644
--- a/python/pyspark/testing/connectutils.py
+++ b/python/pyspark/testing/connectutils.py
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ def conf(cls):
 
     @classmethod
     def master(cls):
-        return "local[4]"
+        return os.environ.get("SPARK_CONNECT_TESTING_REMOTE", "local[4]")
 
     @classmethod
     def setUpClass(cls):