diff --git a/.github/actions/acc_test/action.yaml b/.github/actions/acc_test/action.yaml
index ced5ccd1..e467682c 100644
--- a/.github/actions/acc_test/action.yaml
+++ b/.github/actions/acc_test/action.yaml
@@ -130,9 +130,17 @@ runs:
       shell: bash
       run: |
         set -e
-        if [ ! -f "${{ inputs.service_account_json_file_path }}" ]; then
+        jsonFileContent="${{ inputs.service_account_json_content }}"
+        jsonFile="${{ inputs.service_account_json_file_path }}"
+        jsonFile="${jsonFile:-x}"
+        if [ "${jsonFile}" == "x" ]; then
+          echo "no service account file path provided"
+          exit 1
+        fi
+        
+        if [ ! -f "${jsonFile}" ]; then
           echo "unable to find service account file '${{ inputs.service_account_json_file_path }}'"
-          if [ "x${{ inputs.service_account_json_content }}" == "x" ]; then
+          if [ "${jsonFileContent:-x}" == "x" ]; then
             echo "ERROR: service_account_json_file_content MUST NOT be empty if account file is missing"
             exit 1
           fi