diff --git a/src/plugins/bundled-dir.ts b/src/plugins/bundled-dir.ts
index 33524c36f..d0a3294fb 100644
--- a/src/plugins/bundled-dir.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/bundled-dir.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ import { fileURLToPath } from "node:url";
 export function resolveBundledPluginsDir(): string | undefined {
   const override = process.env.CLAWDBOT_BUNDLED_PLUGINS_DIR?.trim();
   if (override) return override;
+  if ((process.env.VITEST || process.env.NODE_ENV === "test") && !override) {
+    return undefined;
+  }
 
   // bun --compile: ship a sibling `extensions/` next to the executable.
   try {