diff --git a/build.gradle b/build.gradle
index 47652b111c926..a4f28fc71073b 100644
--- a/build.gradle
+++ b/build.gradle
@@ -189,8 +189,8 @@ tasks.register("verifyVersions") {
  * after the backport of the backcompat code is complete.
  */
 
-boolean bwc_tests_enabled = true
-String bwc_tests_disabled_issue = "" /* place a PR link here when committing bwc changes */
+boolean bwc_tests_enabled = false
+String bwc_tests_disabled_issue = "https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/pull/70203" /* place a PR link here when committing bwc changes */
 /*
  * FIPS 140-2 behavior was fixed in 7.11.0. Before that there is no way to run elasticsearch in a
  * JVM that is properly configured to be in fips mode with BCFIPS. For now we need to disable