diff --git a/packages/daemon/src/server.ts b/packages/daemon/src/server.ts
index 8a97d2a..11ae70c 100644
--- a/packages/daemon/src/server.ts
+++ b/packages/daemon/src/server.ts
@@ -32,6 +32,9 @@ export function startServer(port: number, browserManager?: BrowserManager): Prom
   });
 }
 
-// Direct start when running as script
-const port = parseInt(process.env.VISIONL_PORT || '9527', 10);
-startServer(port);
+// Direct start when running as script (not when imported in tests)
+// When imported by other modules, the caller is responsible for calling startServer()
+if (process.argv[1] && (process.argv[1].endsWith('server.js') || process.argv[1].endsWith('server.ts'))) {
+  const port = parseInt(process.env.VISIONL_PORT || '9527', 10);
+  startServer(port);
+}