diff --git a/backend/tests/conftest.py b/backend/tests/conftest.py
index 6d6e4358..56f2e94c 100644
--- a/backend/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/backend/tests/conftest.py
@@ -16,6 +16,14 @@ from app.main import app
 from app.core.database import Base, get_db
 from app.core.admin_database import get_admin_db
 from app.core.config import settings
+# Import every model module so all tables are registered with Base.metadata
+# before the test_db fixture calls create_all. app.main imports models lazily
+# (inside scheduler functions and route modules), which is fine at runtime
+# but leaves the metadata incomplete at fixture-setup time — surfacing as
+# "relation X does not exist" errors for any model whose route/scheduler
+# hasn't been loaded yet. The `from app import models` form avoids
+# shadowing the `app` FastAPI instance imported just above.
+from app import models as _models  # noqa: F401
 
 # Disable invite code requirement for tests
 settings.REQUIRE_INVITE_CODE = False