diff --git a/storage/grpc_client.go b/storage/grpc_client.go
index 40789270540e..937360a4afd8 100644
--- a/storage/grpc_client.go
+++ b/storage/grpc_client.go
@@ -101,7 +101,10 @@ func defaultGRPCOptions() []option.ClientOption {
 		)
 	} else {
 		// Only enable DirectPath when the emulator is not being targeted.
-		defaults = append(defaults, internaloption.EnableDirectPath(true), internaloption.EnableDirectPathXds())
+		defaults = append(defaults,
+			internaloption.EnableDirectPath(true),
+			internaloption.EnableDirectPathXds(),
+			internaloption.AllowNonDefaultServiceAccount(true))
 	}
 
 	return defaults
diff --git a/storage/integration_test.go b/storage/integration_test.go
index 517c77a659d8..d2a3286bd4b8 100644
--- a/storage/integration_test.go
+++ b/storage/integration_test.go
@@ -327,7 +327,6 @@ var readCases = []readCase{
 }
 
 func TestIntegration_DetectDirectConnectivity(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Skip("direct connectivity not yet available for CI")
 	ctx := skipHTTP("direct connectivity isn't available for json")
 	multiTransportTest(ctx, t, func(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, bucket string, prefix string, client *Client) {
 		h := testHelper{t}