diff --git a/tests/system/providers/amazon/aws/example_emr.py b/tests/system/providers/amazon/aws/example_emr.py
index 507ff8588a863..7d62180d07d9c 100644
--- a/tests/system/providers/amazon/aws/example_emr.py
+++ b/tests/system/providers/amazon/aws/example_emr.py
@@ -83,7 +83,10 @@
                 "InstanceCount": 1,
             },
         ],
-        "KeepJobFlowAliveWhenNoSteps": False,
+        # If the EMR steps complete too quickly the cluster will be torn down before the other system test
+        # tasks have a chance to run (such as the modify cluster step, the addition of more EMR steps, etc).
+        # Set KeepJobFlowAliveWhenNoSteps to False to avoid the cluster from being torn down prematurely.
+        "KeepJobFlowAliveWhenNoSteps": True,
         "TerminationProtected": False,
     },
     "Steps": SPARK_STEPS,