diff --git a/pkg/medusa/reconcile.go b/pkg/medusa/reconcile.go
index f7950231d..8fa5ecfe9 100644
--- a/pkg/medusa/reconcile.go
+++ b/pkg/medusa/reconcile.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ const (
 	DefaultMedusaImageRepository = "k8ssandra"
 	DefaultMedusaImageName       = "medusa"
 	// DefaultMedusaVersion pins to an unreleased version to be compatible. will revert back to a release version once we have it
-	DefaultMedusaVersion         = "2e5723d-tmp"
+	DefaultMedusaVersion         = "75d7873-tmp"
 	DefaultMedusaPort            = 50051
 	DefaultProbeInitialDelay     = 10
 	DefaultProbeTimeout          = 1
diff --git a/test/e2e/dse_test.go b/test/e2e/dse_test.go
index 9a82200bc..ada87ecd5 100644
--- a/test/e2e/dse_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/dse_test.go
@@ -100,6 +100,21 @@ func createSingleDseSearchDatacenterCluster(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, n
 	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
 		return testSolrEndpoint(t, solrHostAndPort, username, password)
 	}, 2*time.Minute, 10*time.Second, "failed to reach solr endpoint")
+
+	kc := &api.K8ssandraCluster{}
+	backupKey := types.NamespacedName{Namespace: namespace, Name: backupName}
+
+	checkDatacenterReady(t, ctx, dcKey, f)
+	checkMedusaContainersExist(t, ctx, namespace, dcKey, f, kc)
+	createBackupJob(t, ctx, namespace, f, dcKey)
+	verifyBackupJobFinished(t, ctx, f, dcKey, backupKey)
+	restoreBackupJob(t, ctx, namespace, f, dcKey)
+	verifyRestoreJobFinished(t, ctx, f, dcKey, backupKey)
+
+	require.Eventually(t, func() bool {
+		return testSolrEndpoint(t, solrHostAndPort, username, password)
+	}, 2*time.Minute, 10*time.Second, "failed to reach solr endpoint")
+
 }
 
 func basicAuth(username, password string) string {
diff --git a/test/e2e/suite_test.go b/test/e2e/suite_test.go
index e290a35c8..7db9e5761 100644
--- a/test/e2e/suite_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/suite_test.go
@@ -185,9 +185,10 @@ func TestOperator(t *testing.T) {
 		dse:      true,
 	}))
 	t.Run("CreateSingleDseSearchDatacenterCluster", e2eTest(ctx, &e2eTestOpts{
-		testFunc: createSingleDseSearchDatacenterCluster,
-		fixture:  framework.NewTestFixture("single-dc-dse-search", controlPlane),
-		dse:      true,
+		testFunc:     createSingleDseSearchDatacenterCluster,
+		fixture:      framework.NewTestFixture("single-dc-dse-search", controlPlane),
+		dse:          true,
+		installMinio: true,
 	}))
 	t.Run("CreateSingleDseGraphDatacenterCluster", e2eTest(ctx, &e2eTestOpts{
 		testFunc: createSingleDseGraphDatacenterCluster,
diff --git a/test/testdata/fixtures/single-dc-dse-search/k8ssandra.yaml b/test/testdata/fixtures/single-dc-dse-search/k8ssandra.yaml
index 3d8022eee..d70ea61fb 100644
--- a/test/testdata/fixtures/single-dc-dse-search/k8ssandra.yaml
+++ b/test/testdata/fixtures/single-dc-dse-search/k8ssandra.yaml
@@ -3,6 +3,18 @@ kind: K8ssandraCluster
 metadata:
   name: test
 spec:
+  medusa:
+    containerImage:
+      tag:
+    storageProperties:
+      storageProvider: s3_compatible
+      bucketName: k8ssandra-medusa
+      prefix: test
+      storageSecretRef:
+        name: medusa-bucket-key
+      host: minio-service.minio.svc.cluster.local
+      port: 9000
+      secure: false
   cassandra:
     serverVersion: 6.8.26
     serverType: dse