diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 925a011a10..ec5c759633 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -80,4 +80,4 @@ jobs:
     - uses: gradle/gradle-build-action@842c587ad8aa4c68eeba24c396e15af4c2e9f30a # tag=v2
       name: other tests
       with:
-        arguments: check -x :reactor-core:test -x spotlessCheck --no-daemon
+        arguments: check -x :reactor-core:test -x spotlessCheck --no-daemon -Pjcstress.mode=sanity
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nightly.yml b/.github/workflows/nightly.yml
index 3fe01dc4b5..66a15dbfdd 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nightly.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nightly.yml
@@ -61,4 +61,4 @@ jobs:
       - uses: gradle/gradle-build-action@842c587ad8aa4c68eeba24c396e15af4c2e9f30a # tag=v2
         name: other tests
         with:
-          arguments: check -x :reactor-core:test -x spotlessCheck --no-daemon -DuseSnapshotMicrometerVersion=true
\ No newline at end of file
+          arguments: check -x :reactor-core:test -x spotlessCheck --no-daemon -DuseSnapshotMicrometerVersion=true -Pjcstress.mode=default
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/reactor-core/build.gradle b/reactor-core/build.gradle
index 83e7fa062a..6d3f85d02f 100644
--- a/reactor-core/build.gradle
+++ b/reactor-core/build.gradle
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ blockHoundTest {
 }
 
 jcstress {
-	mode = 'quick' //quick, default, tough
+	mode = project.hasProperty('jcstress.mode') ? project.getProperty('jcstress.mode') : 'quick'//quick, default, tough
     jcstressDependency 'org.openjdk.jcstress:jcstress-core:0.16'
 	heapPerFork = 512
 }