diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 9e9b149e73..f6769fb2ba 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -2179,7 +2179,7 @@ def vm_preference_for_test(namespace, common_vm_preference_param_dict):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="class")
-def common_vm_preference_param_dict(request):
+def common_vm_preference_param_dict(request, is_s390x_cluster):
     common_preference_dict = {
         "name": request.param["name"],
         "client": request.param.get("client"),
@@ -2194,7 +2194,12 @@ def common_vm_preference_param_dict(request):
             }
         }
     if request.param.get("clock_preferred_timer"):
-        common_preference_dict.setdefault("clock", {})["preferredTimer"] = request.param["clock_preferred_timer"]
+        if is_s390x_cluster:
+            LOGGER.info(
+                "Skipping preferredTimer in VirtualMachinePreference: x86-specific timers not available on s390x"
+            )
+        else:
+            common_preference_dict.setdefault("clock", {})["preferredTimer"] = request.param["clock_preferred_timer"]
 
     if request.param.get("cpu_topology"):
         common_preference_dict["cpu"] = {"preferredCPUTopology": request.param["cpu_topology"]}
diff --git a/tests/global_config_s390x.py b/tests/global_config_s390x.py
index 883d27f9da..f7ef99b72d 100644
--- a/tests/global_config_s390x.py
+++ b/tests/global_config_s390x.py
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 instance_type_fedora_os_list = [OS_FLAVOR_FEDORA]
 instance_type_centos_os_list = [CENTOS_STREAM9_PREFERENCE]
 
+nic_models_matrix = ["virtio"]
+
 
 for _dir in dir():
     if not config:  # noqa: F821
diff --git a/tests/infrastructure/instance_types/test_common_vm_preference.py b/tests/infrastructure/instance_types/test_common_vm_preference.py
index 45ccd66bd3..17ffbb75b9 100644
--- a/tests/infrastructure/instance_types/test_common_vm_preference.py
+++ b/tests/infrastructure/instance_types/test_common_vm_preference.py
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
+
 import pytest
 from ocp_resources.virtual_machine_cluster_preference import (
     VirtualMachineClusterPreference,
@@ -8,6 +13,11 @@
 from utilities.constants import VIRT_OPERATOR, Images
 from utilities.virt import VirtualMachineForTests, running_vm
 
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from kubernetes.dynamic import DynamicClient
+
+LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
 pytestmark = [pytest.mark.post_upgrade, pytest.mark.sno]
 
 
@@ -52,10 +62,19 @@ def start_vm_with_cluster_preference(client, preference_name, namespace_name):
         running_vm(vm=vm, wait_for_interfaces=False, check_ssh_connectivity=False)
 
 
-def run_general_vm_preferences(client, namespace, preferences):
+def _preference_requires_efi(client: DynamicClient, preference_name: str) -> bool:
+    """Check if a VirtualMachineClusterPreference requires EFI firmware."""
+    preference = VirtualMachineClusterPreference(client=client, name=preference_name)
+    return bool(preference.instance.spec.get("firmware", {}).get("preferredEfi"))
+
+
+def run_general_vm_preferences(client, namespace, preferences, is_s390x):
     for preference_name in preferences:
         # TODO remove arm64 skip when openshift-virtualization-tests support arm64
         if all(suffix not in preference_name for suffix in ["virtio", "arm64"]):
+            if is_s390x and _preference_requires_efi(client=client, preference_name=preference_name):
+                LOGGER.info(f"Skipping preference {preference_name}: EFI/OVMF not available on s390x")
+                continue
             start_vm_with_cluster_preference(
                 client=client,
                 preference_name=preference_name,
@@ -87,12 +106,13 @@ def test_common_preferences_vendor_labels(base_vm_cluster_preferences):
 @pytest.mark.tier3
 class TestCommonVmPreference:
     @pytest.mark.polarion("CNV-9894")
-    def test_common_vm_preference_windows(self, unprivileged_client, namespace):
+    def test_common_vm_preference_windows(self, unprivileged_client, namespace, is_s390x_cluster):
         run_general_vm_preferences(
             client=unprivileged_client,
             namespace=namespace,
             # drop legacy preferences with pcihole
             preferences=[pref for pref in VM_PREFERENCES_LIST["windows"] if pref not in {"windows.2k3", "windows.xp"}],
+            is_s390x=is_s390x_cluster,
         )
 
     @pytest.mark.parametrize(
@@ -113,16 +133,22 @@ def test_common_vm_preference_windows(self, unprivileged_client, namespace):
         ],
     )
     @pytest.mark.s390x
-    def test_common_vm_preference_linux(self, cluster_preferences, unprivileged_client, namespace):
+    def test_common_vm_preference_linux(self, cluster_preferences, unprivileged_client, namespace, is_s390x_cluster):
         run_general_vm_preferences(
-            client=unprivileged_client, namespace=namespace, preferences=VM_PREFERENCES_LIST[cluster_preferences]
+            client=unprivileged_client,
+            namespace=namespace,
+            preferences=VM_PREFERENCES_LIST[cluster_preferences],
+            is_s390x=is_s390x_cluster,
         )
 
     @pytest.mark.special_infra
     @pytest.mark.polarion("CNV-10806")
-    def test_common_vm_preference_dpdk(self, unprivileged_client, namespace):
+    def test_common_vm_preference_dpdk(self, unprivileged_client, namespace, is_s390x_cluster):
         run_general_vm_preferences(
-            client=unprivileged_client, namespace=namespace, preferences=VM_PREFERENCES_LIST["network"]
+            client=unprivileged_client,
+            namespace=namespace,
+            preferences=VM_PREFERENCES_LIST["network"],
+            is_s390x=is_s390x_cluster,
         )
 
 
diff --git a/tests/infrastructure/instance_types/test_vm_with_instance_and_pref.py b/tests/infrastructure/instance_types/test_vm_with_instance_and_pref.py
index 0ee408e690..ff435eedad 100644
--- a/tests/infrastructure/instance_types/test_vm_with_instance_and_pref.py
+++ b/tests/infrastructure/instance_types/test_vm_with_instance_and_pref.py
@@ -155,7 +155,6 @@ def test_instance_pref_controller_revision(
 
     @pytest.mark.dependency(depends=["start_vm_with_instance_type_and_preference"])
     @pytest.mark.polarion("CNV-9821")
-    @pytest.mark.s390x
     def test_validate_clock_values(self, rhel_vm_with_instance_type_and_preference):
         clock_dict = rhel_vm_with_instance_type_and_preference.vmi.instance.to_dict()["spec"]["domain"]["clock"]
         vmi_clock_values = [
diff --git a/tests/storage/cdi_clone/test_clone.py b/tests/storage/cdi_clone/test_clone.py
index 4f8f4e901b..cd2415435d 100644
--- a/tests/storage/cdi_clone/test_clone.py
+++ b/tests/storage/cdi_clone/test_clone.py
@@ -78,7 +78,6 @@ def create_vm_from_clone_dv_template(
     ],
     indirect=True,
 )
-@pytest.mark.s390x
 def test_successful_clone_of_large_image(
     namespace,
     data_volume_multi_storage_scope_function,