diff --git a/fluxer_api/src/api/test/Setup.ts b/fluxer_api/src/api/test/Setup.ts
index 63889ba32..f850f870b 100644
--- a/fluxer_api/src/api/test/Setup.ts
+++ b/fluxer_api/src/api/test/Setup.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ function defaultNatsUrl(): string {
 }
 
 function setDefaultTestEnv(): void {
+	// API tests use a non-self-hosted baseline; self-hosted scenarios override the loaded config explicitly.
+	process.env.FLUXER_SELF_HOSTED = 'false';
+
 	const natsUrl = defaultNatsUrl();
 	const defaults: Record<string, string> = {
 		FLUXER_ENV: 'test',
@@ -89,7 +92,6 @@ function setDefaultTestEnv(): void {
 		FLUXER_SEARCH_API_KEY: 'test',
 		FLUXER_CAPTCHA_ENABLED: 'false',
 		FLUXER_CAPTCHA_PROVIDER: 'none',
-		FLUXER_SELF_HOSTED: 'false',
 		FLUXER_DISCOVERY_ENABLED: 'true',
 		FLUXER_RELAX_REGISTRATION_RATE_LIMITS: 'true',
 		FLUXER_DISABLE_RATE_LIMITS: 'true',