diff --git a/backend/tests/test_app_controller.py b/backend/tests/test_app_controller.py
index d02b23a..ed206cd 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_app_controller.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_app_controller.py
@@ -125,6 +125,8 @@ def test_apply_settings_no_reload_when_same(controller):
     # Ensure config returns the same values
     controller.config.set("transcription.model", "base.en")
     controller.config.set("transcription.device", "auto")
+    # Remote mode must also match (no engine means current mode is 'local')
+    controller.config.set("remote.mode", "local")
 
     controller.reload_engine = MagicMock(return_value=(True, "reloaded"))