How to set up repl_distributor for data access

I need to run queries on the distributor server from the publisher during deployment in a transactional replication setup. I see repl_distributor is set up as a linked server, but am having trouble setting it up for data access.

I'll call my publisher server "pub" and distributor "distr". I ran

EXEC sp_serveroption 'repl_distributor', 'DATA ACCESS', TRUE

on pub and

EXEC sp_serveroption 'distr', 'DATA ACCESS', TRUE

on distr.

I'm still not able to query distr from pub

Msg 7411, Level 16, State 1, Line 1 Server 'repl_distributor' is not configured for DATA ACCESS.