diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e.yml b/.github/workflows/e2e.yml
index 9cd4a05496..332947afd1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e.yml
@@ -18,6 +18,11 @@ on:
       self-hosted:
         description: "Self Hosted"
         type: boolean
+      run-without-nix:
+        description: "Run the E2E test without using a nix shell"
+        type: boolean
+        required: false
+        default: false
 
 env:
   container_registry: ghcr.io/edgelesssys
@@ -73,11 +78,22 @@ jobs:
       - name: E2E Test
         run: |
           nix run .#scripts.get-logs workspace/e2e.namespace &
-          nix shell -L .#contrast.e2e --command ${{ inputs.test-name }}.test -test.v \
-            --image-replacements workspace/just.containerlookup \
-            --namespace-file workspace/e2e.namespace \
-            --platform ${{ inputs.platform }} \
-            --skip-undeploy="${{ inputs.skip-undeploy && 'true' || 'false' }}"
+          if [[ "${{inputs.run-without-nix}}" == "false" ]]; then
+            echo "Running with nix"
+            nix shell -L .#contrast.e2e --command ${{ inputs.test-name }}.test -test.v \
+              --image-replacements workspace/just.containerlookup \
+              --namespace-file workspace/e2e.namespace \
+              --platform ${{ inputs.platform }} \
+              --skip-undeploy="${{ inputs.skip-undeploy && 'true' || 'false' }}"
+          else
+            echo "Running without nix"
+            nix build .#contrast.e2e
+            ./result/bin/${{ inputs.test-name }}.test -test.v \
+              --image-replacements workspace/just.containerlookup \
+              --namespace-file workspace/e2e.namespace \
+              --platform ${{ inputs.platform }} \
+              --skip-undeploy="${{ inputs.skip-undeploy && 'true' || 'false' }}"
+          fi
       - name: Upload logs
         if: always()
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@b4b15b8c7c6ac21ea08fcf65892d2ee8f75cf882 # v4.4.3
diff --git a/.github/workflows/e2e_aks_runtime.yml b/.github/workflows/e2e_aks_runtime.yml
index b598d5e2c4..b82e958858 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/e2e_aks_runtime.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/e2e_aks_runtime.yml
@@ -9,15 +9,37 @@ on:
 
 jobs:
   test_matrix:
-    name: Test aks runtime
-    uses: ./.github/workflows/e2e.yml
-    with:
-      skip-undeploy: false
-      test-name: aks-runtime
-      platform: AKS-CLH-SNP
-      runner: ubuntu-22.04
-      self-hosted: false
-    secrets: inherit
-    permissions:
-      contents: read
-      packages: write
+    steps:
+      - name: Install `az` with extensions
+        run: |
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release
+          sudo mkdir -p /etc/apt/keyrings
+          curl -sLS https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc |
+            gpg --dearmor | sudo tee /etc/apt/keyrings/microsoft.gpg > /dev/null
+          sudo chmod go+r /etc/apt/keyrings/microsoft.gpg
+          AZ_DIST=$(lsb_release -cs)
+          echo "Types: deb
+          URIs: https://packages.microsoft.com/repos/azure-cli/
+          Suites: ${AZ_DIST}
+          Components: main
+          Architectures: $(dpkg --print-architecture)
+          Signed-by: /etc/apt/keyrings/microsoft.gpg" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/azure-cli.sources
+          sudo apt-get update
+          sudo apt-get install azure-cli
+
+          az extension add --name aks-preview
+          az extension add --name confcom
+      - name: Test aks runtime
+        uses: ./.github/workflows/e2e.yml
+        with:
+          skip-undeploy: false
+          test-name: aks-runtime
+          platform: AKS-CLH-SNP
+          runner: ubuntu-22.04
+          self-hosted: false
+          run-without-nix: true
+        secrets: inherit
+        permissions:
+          contents: read
+          packages: write