diff --git a/python/kvikio/tests/test_aws_s3.py b/python/kvikio/tests/test_aws_s3.py
index 9f84eb66fe..04e0d08c0a 100644
--- a/python/kvikio/tests/test_aws_s3.py
+++ b/python/kvikio/tests/test_aws_s3.py
@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@
 import pytest
 
 import kvikio
-import kvikio._lib.remote_handle
+
+# TODO: remove before PR merge. Trigger CI error if the remote module wasn't built
+import kvikio._lib.remote_handle  # isort: skip
 
 moto = pytest.importorskip("moto", minversion="3.1.6")
 boto3 = pytest.importorskip("boto3")