diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade_downgrade_test_reparent_old_vtctl.yml b/.github/workflows/upgrade_downgrade_test_reparent_old_vtctl.yml
index 629919397df..e9e63024858 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade_downgrade_test_reparent_old_vtctl.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade_downgrade_test_reparent_old_vtctl.yml
@@ -191,5 +191,8 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p /tmp/vtdataroot
 
           source build.env
-          export SKIPTESTCROSSCELLDURABILITY=1 # skip on v14
+
+          # skip TestCrossCellDurability test on v14 (as previous). It doesn't setup semi-sync the way this test (from v16) expects
+          export SKIPTESTCROSSCELLDURABILITY=1
+
           eatmydata -- go run test.go -skip-build -keep-data=false -docker=false -print-log -follow -tag upgrade_downgrade_reparent
diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade_downgrade_test_reparent_old_vttablet.yml b/.github/workflows/upgrade_downgrade_test_reparent_old_vttablet.yml
index 2c38f343989..c0b08f1acd7 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade_downgrade_test_reparent_old_vttablet.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade_downgrade_test_reparent_old_vttablet.yml
@@ -188,5 +188,8 @@ jobs:
           mkdir -p /tmp/vtdataroot
 
           source build.env
-          export SKIPTESTCROSSCELLDURABILITY=1 # skip on v14
+
+          # skip TestCrossCellDurability test on v14 (as previous). It doesn't setup semi-sync the way this test (from v16) expects
+          export SKIPTESTCROSSCELLDURABILITY=1
+
           eatmydata -- go run test.go -skip-build -keep-data=false -docker=false -print-log -follow -tag upgrade_downgrade_reparent