diff --git a/charms/kfp-api/tests/integration/test_charm.py b/charms/kfp-api/tests/integration/test_charm.py
index 81f91300..b39a66dc 100644
--- a/charms/kfp-api/tests/integration/test_charm.py
+++ b/charms/kfp-api/tests/integration/test_charm.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ class TestCharm:
     """Integration test charm"""
 
     @pytest.mark.abort_on_fail
-    async def test_build_and_deploy(self, ops_test: OpsTest):
+    async def test_build_and_deploy(self, ops_test: OpsTest, request):
         """Deploy kfp-api with required charms and relations."""
 
         image_path = METADATA["resources"]["oci-image"]["upstream-source"]
diff --git a/charms/kfp-metadata-writer/tests/integration/conftest.py b/charms/kfp-metadata-writer/tests/integration/conftest.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..943b6694
--- /dev/null
+++ b/charms/kfp-metadata-writer/tests/integration/conftest.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+# Copyright 2024 Canonical Ltd.
+# See LICENSE file for licensing details.
+
+from _pytest.config.argparsing import Parser
+
+
+def pytest_addoption(parser: Parser):
+    parser.addoption(
+        "--charm-path",
+        help="Path to charm file when downloaded as artefact as a result of build_charm.yaml"
+    )
diff --git a/charms/kfp-metadata-writer/tests/integration/test_charm.py b/charms/kfp-metadata-writer/tests/integration/test_charm.py
index 0f0d5d77..41595687 100644
--- a/charms/kfp-metadata-writer/tests/integration/test_charm.py
+++ b/charms/kfp-metadata-writer/tests/integration/test_charm.py
@@ -26,16 +26,32 @@
 
 
 @pytest.mark.abort_on_fail
-async def test_build_and_deploy_with_relations(ops_test: OpsTest):
+async def test_build_and_deploy_with_relations(ops_test: OpsTest, request):
     built_charm_path = await ops_test.build_charm(CHARM_ROOT)
     log.info(f"Built charm {built_charm_path}")
 
     image_path = METADATA["resources"]["oci-image"]["upstream-source"]
     resources = {"oci-image": image_path}
 
-    await ops_test.model.deploy(
-        entity_url=built_charm_path, application_name=APP_NAME, resources=resources, trust=True
-    )
+    if entity_url := request.config.getoption("--charm-path"):
+        await ops_test.model.deploy(
+            entity_url=entity_url,
+            application_name=APP_NAME,
+            resources=resources,
+            trust=True,
+        )
+    else:
+        # Keep the option to run the integration tests locally
+        # by building the charm and then deploying
+        built_charm_path = await ops_test.build_charm("./")
+        logger.info(f"Built charm {built_charm_path}")
+        await ops_test.model.deploy(
+            entity_url=built_charm_path,
+            application_name=APP_NAME,
+            resources=resources,
+            trust=True,
+        )
+
     await ops_test.model.deploy(entity_url=MLMD, channel=MLMD_CHANNEL, trust=True)
     await ops_test.model.integrate(f"{MLMD}:grpc", f"{APP_NAME}:grpc")
     await ops_test.model.wait_for_idle(apps=[APP_NAME, MLMD], status="active", timeout=10 * 60)