diff --git a/tests/gateway/test_approve_deny_commands.py b/tests/gateway/test_approve_deny_commands.py
index e51e11f16..b1c192f1a 100644
--- a/tests/gateway/test_approve_deny_commands.py
+++ b/tests/gateway/test_approve_deny_commands.py
@@ -345,6 +345,11 @@ class TestBlockingApprovalE2E:
 
     def setup_method(self):
         _clear_approval_state()
+        os.environ.pop("HERMES_YOLO_MODE", None)
+        os.environ.pop("HERMES_INTERACTIVE", None)
+        os.environ.pop("HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION", None)
+        os.environ.pop("HERMES_EXEC_ASK", None)
+        os.environ.pop("HERMES_SESSION_KEY", None)
 
     def test_blocking_approval_approve_once(self):
         """check_all_command_guards blocks until resolve_gateway_approval is called."""
@@ -364,6 +369,7 @@ class TestBlockingApprovalE2E:
             from tools.approval import reset_current_session_key, set_current_session_key
 
             token = set_current_session_key(session_key)
+            os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION"] = "1"
             os.environ["HERMES_EXEC_ASK"] = "1"
             os.environ["HERMES_SESSION_KEY"] = session_key
             try:
@@ -371,6 +377,7 @@ class TestBlockingApprovalE2E:
                     "rm -rf /important", "local"
                 )
             finally:
+                os.environ.pop("HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION", None)
                 os.environ.pop("HERMES_EXEC_ASK", None)
                 os.environ.pop("HERMES_SESSION_KEY", None)
                 reset_current_session_key(token)
@@ -410,6 +417,7 @@ class TestBlockingApprovalE2E:
             from tools.approval import reset_current_session_key, set_current_session_key
 
             token = set_current_session_key(session_key)
+            os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION"] = "1"
             os.environ["HERMES_EXEC_ASK"] = "1"
             os.environ["HERMES_SESSION_KEY"] = session_key
             try:
@@ -417,6 +425,7 @@ class TestBlockingApprovalE2E:
                     "rm -rf /important", "local"
                 )
             finally:
+                os.environ.pop("HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION", None)
                 os.environ.pop("HERMES_EXEC_ASK", None)
                 os.environ.pop("HERMES_SESSION_KEY", None)
                 reset_current_session_key(token)
@@ -451,6 +460,7 @@ class TestBlockingApprovalE2E:
             from tools.approval import reset_current_session_key, set_current_session_key
 
             token = set_current_session_key(session_key)
+            os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION"] = "1"
             os.environ["HERMES_EXEC_ASK"] = "1"
             os.environ["HERMES_SESSION_KEY"] = session_key
             try:
@@ -460,6 +470,7 @@ class TestBlockingApprovalE2E:
                         "rm -rf /important", "local"
                     )
             finally:
+                os.environ.pop("HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION", None)
                 os.environ.pop("HERMES_EXEC_ASK", None)
                 os.environ.pop("HERMES_SESSION_KEY", None)
                 reset_current_session_key(token)
@@ -491,11 +502,13 @@ class TestBlockingApprovalE2E:
                 from tools.approval import reset_current_session_key, set_current_session_key
 
                 token = set_current_session_key(session_key)
+                os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION"] = "1"
                 os.environ["HERMES_EXEC_ASK"] = "1"
                 os.environ["HERMES_SESSION_KEY"] = session_key
                 try:
                     results[idx] = check_all_command_guards(cmd, "local")
                 finally:
+                    os.environ.pop("HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION", None)
                     os.environ.pop("HERMES_EXEC_ASK", None)
                     os.environ.pop("HERMES_SESSION_KEY", None)
                     reset_current_session_key(token)
@@ -546,11 +559,13 @@ class TestBlockingApprovalE2E:
                 from tools.approval import reset_current_session_key, set_current_session_key
 
                 token = set_current_session_key(session_key)
+                os.environ["HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION"] = "1"
                 os.environ["HERMES_EXEC_ASK"] = "1"
                 os.environ["HERMES_SESSION_KEY"] = session_key
                 try:
                     results[idx] = check_all_command_guards(cmd, "local")
                 finally:
+                    os.environ.pop("HERMES_GATEWAY_SESSION", None)
                     os.environ.pop("HERMES_EXEC_ASK", None)
                     os.environ.pop("HERMES_SESSION_KEY", None)
                     reset_current_session_key(token)