diff --git a/terraso_backend/apps/core/gis/parsers.py b/terraso_backend/apps/core/gis/parsers.py
index 395800ca0..d76e1c56c 100644
--- a/terraso_backend/apps/core/gis/parsers.py
+++ b/terraso_backend/apps/core/gis/parsers.py
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 
 logger = structlog.get_logger(__name__)
 
+gpd.options.io_engine = "fiona"
+
 supported_drivers["KML"] = "rw"
 supported_drivers["LIBKML"] = "rw"
 supported_drivers["GPX"] = "rw"
diff --git a/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/test_shared_data.py b/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/test_shared_data.py
index 5add53eb1..9d0de8250 100644
--- a/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/test_shared_data.py
+++ b/terraso_backend/tests/graphql/test_shared_data.py
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@
 
 from ..core.gis.test_parsers import KML_TEST_FILES
 
+gpd.options.io_engine = "fiona"
+
 pytestmark = pytest.mark.django_db