diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index b6337bc..d63c136 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -23,3 +23,9 @@ jobs:
         run: pnpm exec playwright install
       - name: Run Playwright/BDD tests
         run: npm run bdd:full
+        env:
+          NODE_ENV: test
+          AI_FOUNDRY_PROJECT_CONNECTION_STRING: test
+          AI_MODEL=gpt-4o
+          VITE_PARTYKIT_BASE_URL=wss://partykit.jcreek.partykit.dev
+          PARTYKIT_BASE_URL=wss://partykit.jcreek.partykit.dev
diff --git a/src/lib/agent/services/agentService.ts b/src/lib/agent/services/agentService.ts
index 603e7ec..c64fd2e 100644
--- a/src/lib/agent/services/agentService.ts
+++ b/src/lib/agent/services/agentService.ts
@@ -11,15 +11,20 @@ import {
 } from '../tools/index';
 import { AI_FOUNDRY_PROJECT_CONNECTION_STRING, AI_MODEL } from '$env/static/private';
 
-if (!AI_FOUNDRY_PROJECT_CONNECTION_STRING) {
+const isTestEnv = process.env.NODE_ENV === 'test' || AI_FOUNDRY_PROJECT_CONNECTION_STRING === 'test';
+
+const safeConnString = AI_FOUNDRY_PROJECT_CONNECTION_STRING || (isTestEnv ? 'dummy-connection-string' : undefined);
+const safeModel = AI_MODEL || (isTestEnv ? 'dummy-model' : undefined);
+
+if (!safeConnString && !isTestEnv) {
   throw new Error('AI_FOUNDRY_PROJECT_CONNECTION_STRING is not set');
 }
-if (!AI_MODEL) {
+if (!safeModel && !isTestEnv) {
   throw new Error('AI_MODEL is not set');
 }
 
 export const client = AIProjectsClient.fromConnectionString(
-  AI_FOUNDRY_PROJECT_CONNECTION_STRING,
+  safeConnString!,
   new DefaultAzureCredential()
 );