diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index ba1bbbf0af9..d90755e062c 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -167,6 +167,10 @@ clean: ## DANGER! Purges all site-specific info and developer files from project
 upgrade-start: ## Boot up an upgrade test base environment using libvirt
 	@SD_UPGRADE_BASE=$(STABLE_VER) molecule converge -s upgrade
 
+.PHONY: upgrade-start-qa
+upgrade-start-qa: ## Boot up an upgrade test base env using libvirt in remote apt mode
+	@SD_UPGRADE_BASE=$(STABLE_VER) QA_APTTEST=yes molecule converge -s upgrade
+
 .PHONY: upgrade-destroy
 upgrade-destroy: ## Destroy up an upgrade test base environment
 	@SD_UPGRADE_BASE=$(STABLE_VER) molecule destroy -s upgrade
diff --git a/docs/development/upgrade_testing.rst b/docs/development/upgrade_testing.rst
index f3b48d65ab7..736e5901daf 100644
--- a/docs/development/upgrade_testing.rst
+++ b/docs/development/upgrade_testing.rst
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ create the environment:
 
 .. code:: sh
 
-   make upgrade-start
+   make upgrade-start-qa
 
 Then, log into the *Application Server*: