diff --git a/lib/tempest b/lib/tempest
index b794832f2d..fb44b1b3ec 100644
--- a/lib/tempest
+++ b/lib/tempest
@@ -685,6 +685,8 @@ function configure_tempest {
         iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG auth admin_project_name ''
     fi
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG enforce_scope glance "$GLANCE_ENFORCE_SCOPE"
+    # NOTE(gmann): system scope is supported for <=stable/yoga only
+    iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG glance_api system_scope_supported "True"
 
     iniset $TEMPEST_CONFIG enforce_scope cinder "$CINDER_ENFORCE_SCOPE"