diff --git a/backend/internal/handler/auth_handler_link_test.go b/backend/internal/handler/auth_handler_link_test.go
index cf9b7857..0c1286f0 100644
--- a/backend/internal/handler/auth_handler_link_test.go
+++ b/backend/internal/handler/auth_handler_link_test.go
@@ -225,6 +225,8 @@ func TestPollEnchantedLink_ExpiredToken_ReturnsCode(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestHeadlessLinkInit_HeadlessLoginClientSuccess(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("BACKEND_PUBLIC_URL", "")
+
 	if !testsupport.PortBindingAvailable() {
 		t.Skip("skipping headless link tests because this environment cannot bind local TCP listeners")
 	}
@@ -296,6 +298,8 @@ func TestHeadlessLinkInit_HeadlessLoginClientSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestHeadlessLinkPoll_AfterApprovalReturnsRedirect(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Setenv("BACKEND_PUBLIC_URL", "")
+
 	if !testsupport.PortBindingAvailable() {
 		t.Skip("skipping headless link tests because this environment cannot bind local TCP listeners")
 	}