diff --git a/backend/tests/conftest.py b/backend/tests/conftest.py
index 7e52036..cdf9b2d 100644
--- a/backend/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/backend/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
-import pytest
-import sys
 import os
+import sys
 
-# Add backend to path so imports work without installing the package
-sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".."))
+# Set required env vars before any app imports
+os.environ.setdefault("SECRET_KEY", "test-secret-key")
+os.environ.setdefault("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY", "test-anthropic-key")
+os.environ.setdefault("ADMIN_EMAIL", "admin@test.com")
+os.environ.setdefault("ADMIN_PASSWORD", "testpassword")
+os.environ.setdefault("DATABASE_URL", "postgresql+asyncpg://test:test@localhost:5432/test")
+os.environ.setdefault("REDIS_URL", "redis://localhost:6379")
+
+# Add backend to path
+sys.path.insert(0, os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))))