diff --git a/src/backend/utils.py b/src/backend/utils.py
index b9bd326fff23637d5e17f8765708429492206007..e70ec1b285ff9cba46461b348f30bf0163ef9d59 100644
--- a/src/backend/utils.py
+++ b/src/backend/utils.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 from django.conf import settings
 from pymongo import MongoClient
 
-if settings.TESTING == "False":
+if settings.TESTING == "True":
+    lrs_db = None
+else:
     lrs_db_client = MongoClient(settings.LRS_CONNECTION_STRING)
     lrs_db = lrs_db_client[settings.LRS_MONGO_DB_NAME]