diff --git a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py
index 6d2ad47bc11..c0e8300f39b 100644
--- a/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py
+++ b/tests/hermes_cli/test_gateway_service.py
@@ -460,6 +460,8 @@ class TestGatewayServiceDetection:
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "is_linux", lambda: True)
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "is_termux", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "is_wsl", lambda: False)
+        # CI runner pods are containers; pin the host case this test covers.
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "is_container", lambda: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli.shutil, "which", lambda name: "/usr/bin/systemctl")
 
         assert gateway_cli.supports_systemd_services() is True
@@ -495,6 +497,10 @@ class TestGatewaySystemServiceRouting:
 
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_select_systemd_scope", lambda system=False: False)
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_require_service_installed", lambda action, system=False: None)
+        # Preflight probes the real user D-Bus; on CI runner pods there is
+        # none and it raises UserSystemdUnavailableError. Stub it — this
+        # test asserts the restart choreography, not D-Bus reachability.
+        monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_preflight_user_systemd", lambda: None)
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "refresh_systemd_unit_if_needed", lambda system=False: calls.append(("refresh", system)))
         monkeypatch.setattr(gateway_cli, "_get_restart_drain_timeout", lambda: 12.0)
         monkeypatch.setattr(