diff --git a/qiskit_experiments/framework/base_experiment.py b/qiskit_experiments/framework/base_experiment.py
index 3c0a81419f..882fc20a3f 100644
--- a/qiskit_experiments/framework/base_experiment.py
+++ b/qiskit_experiments/framework/base_experiment.py
@@ -275,10 +275,9 @@ def _max_circuits(self, backend: Backend = None):
             if self.backend is None:
                 raise QiskitError("A backend must be provided.")
             backend = self.backend
-        self.backend = backend
         # Get max circuits for job splitting
         max_circuits_option = getattr(self.experiment_options, "max_circuits", None)
-        max_circuits_backend = self._backend_data.max_circuits
+        max_circuits_backend = BackendData(backend).max_circuits
 
         if max_circuits_option and max_circuits_backend:
             return min(max_circuits_option, max_circuits_backend)
diff --git a/test/framework/test_framework.py b/test/framework/test_framework.py
index 09335abcd2..674b54f850 100644
--- a/test/framework/test_framework.py
+++ b/test/framework/test_framework.py
@@ -268,7 +268,7 @@ def error_message(self):
         self.assertEqual(len(res), 0)
         self.assertEqual(expdata.analysis_status(), AnalysisStatus.CANCELLED)
 
-    @ddt.data(1, 10, 100)
+    @ddt.data(None, 1, 10, 100)
     def test_max_circuits(self, max_experiments):
         """Test running experiment with max_circuits"""