diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 79b7e04f..bf099bda 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ scratch: build
 check: unit itest
 
 itest-only:
-	@$(call print, "Running integration tests.")
+	@$(call print, "Running integration tests with ${backend} backend.")
 	$(ITEST)
 
 itest: btcd build-itest itest-only
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ travis-itest: lint itest
 # =============
 
 flakehunter: build-itest
-	@$(call print, "Flake hunting integration tests.")
+	@$(call print, "Flake hunting ${backend} integration tests.")
 	while [ $$? -eq 0 ]; do $(ITEST); done
 
 flake-unit:
diff --git a/make/testing_flags.mk b/make/testing_flags.mk
index eb5b43b1..49b906ed 100644
--- a/make/testing_flags.mk
+++ b/make/testing_flags.mk
@@ -55,4 +55,12 @@ endif
 
 # Construct the integration test command with the added build flags.
 ITEST_TAGS := $(DEV_TAGS) rpctest chainrpc walletrpc signrpc invoicesrpc autopilotrpc routerrpc
+
+# Default to btcd backend if not set.
+ifneq ($(backend),)
+ITEST_TAGS += ${backend}
+else
+ITEST_TAGS += btcd
+endif
+
 ITEST := rm output*.log; date; $(GOTEST) -tags="$(ITEST_TAGS)" $(TEST_FLAGS) -logoutput