diff --git a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
index 7da5266..3b9e2e6 100644
--- a/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/rust/crates/rusty-claude-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -6805,6 +6805,9 @@ UU conflicted.rs",
     #[test]
     fn build_runtime_runs_plugin_lifecycle_init_and_shutdown() {
         let config_home = temp_dir();
+        // Inject a dummy API key so runtime construction succeeds without real credentials.
+        // This test only exercises plugin lifecycle (init/shutdown), never calls the API.
+        std::env::set_var("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY", "test-dummy-key-for-plugin-lifecycle");
         let workspace = temp_dir();
         let source_root = temp_dir();
         fs::create_dir_all(&config_home).expect("config home");
@@ -6853,6 +6856,7 @@ UU conflicted.rs",
         let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(config_home);
         let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(workspace);
         let _ = fs::remove_dir_all(source_root);
+        std::env::remove_var("ANTHROPIC_API_KEY");
     }
 }