diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index a36dd95f6a..cef2e8c0f8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ jobs:
               vp uninstall -g typescript
 
               git config --global --add safe.directory /workspace
-              RUST_BACKTRACE=1 pnpm test
+              RUST_BACKTRACE=1 pnpm test:unit
             "
 
   # Regression test for #2278: Debian slim images ship no ca-certificates
diff --git a/.github/workflows/upgrade-deps.yml b/.github/workflows/upgrade-deps.yml
index 52c2c43c34..8b05c40ecf 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/upgrade-deps.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/upgrade-deps.yml
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ jobs:
 
             ### Final validation (this step is complete ONLY when all pass)
             1. `just build` exits 0.
-            2. `pnpm bootstrap-cli:ci && pnpm test` exits 0.
+            2. `pnpm bootstrap-cli:ci && pnpm test:unit` exits 0.
             3. `just snapshot-test` exits 0. Snapshot mismatches fail the run with a
                unified diff. Re-record with `UPDATE_SNAPSHOTS=1` only for cosmetic
                drift from the upgrade (e.g. a bumped version string in help output);
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ jobs:
 
             ### Running long commands (IMPORTANT)
             Run every long-running command (`just build`, `pnpm bootstrap-cli:ci`,
-            `pnpm test`, `cargo check`, etc.) in the FOREGROUND — a single Bash tool call
+            `pnpm test:unit`, `cargo check`, etc.) in the FOREGROUND — a single Bash tool call
             that blocks until the command exits. The Bash tool already gives you a 10-minute
             timeout per call, which is enough for these builds.
 
diff --git a/justfile b/justfile
index 56483fc4db..f241b9ea11 100644
--- a/justfile
+++ b/justfile
@@ -81,15 +81,26 @@ test:
   $packages = Get-ChildItem -Path crates -Directory | Where-Object { $_.Name -ne 'vp_cli_snapshots' } | ForEach-Object { '-p'; $_.Name }; $Env:RUST_MIN_STACK='8388608'; $Env:__COMPAT_LAYER='RunAsInvoker'; cargo test @packages -p vite-plus-cli
 
 # PTY-based CLI snapshot tests (crates/vp_cli_snapshots). Builds the global
-# binary and shim template first so the runner never tests a stale build.
+# binary and shim template first so the runner never tests a stale build, and
+# installs Playwright Chromium for the browser-mode cases (idempotent).
 # Filter by trial name substring: `just snapshot-test create`. Accept snapshot changes with
 # `UPDATE_SNAPSHOTS=1 just snapshot-test`. Local-flavor cases additionally
 # need a built packages/cli (`pnpm build`); the runner fails fast when dist
 # is missing or stale. Use snapshot-test-global on checkouts without one.
-snapshot-test *args='':
+snapshot-test *args='': _install_chromium
   cargo build -p vp_global_cli -p vp_trampoline
   cargo test -p vp_cli_snapshots -- {{args}}
 
+# Browser-mode snapshot cases run with PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=0, so the
+# browser must be installed into node_modules with the same setting.
+[unix]
+_install_chromium:
+  PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH=0 pnpm exec playwright install chromium
+
+[windows]
+_install_chromium:
+  $Env:PLAYWRIGHT_BROWSERS_PATH='0'; pnpm exec playwright install chromium
+
 # Global flavor + vpt cases only: needs no JS build, for Rust-side work on
 # a checkout that never ran `pnpm build`.
 [unix]
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index f53cce35a1..bd6549caa3 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@
     "local-registry:kill": "node packages/tools/src/local-npm-registry.ts --kill",
     "tsgo": "tsgo -b tsconfig.json",
     "lint": "vp lint --type-aware --type-check --threads 4",
-    "test": "vp test run",
+    "test": "vp test && just snapshot-test",
     "snapshot-test": "just snapshot-test",
+    "test:unit": "vp test",
     "fmt": "vp fmt",
-    "test:unit": "vp test run",
     "docs:dev": "pnpm -C docs dev",
     "docs:build": "pnpm -C docs build",
     "docs:update-trusted-stack-stats": "pnpm -C docs update-trusted-stack-stats",