diff --git a/s3tests/functional/__init__.py b/s3tests/functional/__init__.py
index 26e55de..51dd506 100644
--- a/s3tests/functional/__init__.py
+++ b/s3tests/functional/__init__.py
@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ def get_prefix():
     assert prefix is not None
     return prefix
 
+def is_slow_backend():
+    return slow_backend
+
 def choose_bucket_prefix(template, max_len=30):
     """
     Choose a prefix for our test buckets, so they're easy to identify.
@@ -237,6 +240,7 @@ def setup():
 
     global prefix
     global targets
+    global slow_backend
 
     try:
         template = cfg.get('fixtures', 'bucket prefix')
@@ -244,6 +248,11 @@ def setup():
         template = 'test-{random}-'
     prefix = choose_bucket_prefix(template=template)
 
+    try:
+        slow_backend = cfg.getboolean('fixtures', 'slow backend')
+    except (ConfigParser.NoSectionError, ConfigParser.NoOptionError):
+        slow_backend = False
+
     # pull the default_region out, if it exists
     try:
         default_region = cfg.get('fixtures', 'default_region')
diff --git a/s3tests/functional/test_s3.py b/s3tests/functional/test_s3.py
index b50e558..5544f2b 100644
--- a/s3tests/functional/test_s3.py
+++ b/s3tests/functional/test_s3.py
@@ -47,6 +47,7 @@ from . import (
     targets,
     config,
     get_prefix,
+    is_slow_backend,
     )
 
 
@@ -4806,6 +4807,7 @@ def test_region_bucket_create_master_access_remove_secondary():
         e = assert_raises(boto.exception.S3ResponseError, master_conn.get_bucket, bucket.name)
         eq(e.status, 404)
 
+
 @attr(resource='object')
 @attr(method='copy')
 @attr(operation='copy object between regions, verify')
@@ -4821,8 +4823,12 @@ def test_region_copy_object():
         print 'created new dest bucket ', dest_bucket.name
         region_sync_meta(targets.main, dest)
 
-        for file_size in (1024, 1024 * 1024, 10 * 1024 * 1024,
-                          100 * 1024 * 1024):
+        if is_slow_backend():
+            sizes = (1024, 10 * 1024 * 1024)
+        else:
+            sizes = (1024, 10 * 1024 * 1024, 100 * 1024 * 1024)
+
+        for file_size in sizes:
             for (k2, r) in targets.main.iteritems():
                 if r == dest_conn:
                     continue