diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/issue-telemetry-routes.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/issue-telemetry-routes.test.ts
index b1268b55a7..fae6d1b267 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/issue-telemetry-routes.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/issue-telemetry-routes.test.ts
@@ -139,11 +139,15 @@ function makeIssue(status: "todo" | "done") {
   };
 }
 
-async function createApp(actor: Record<string, unknown>) {
-  const [{ errorHandler }, { issueRoutes }] = await Promise.all([
+function loadAppModules() {
+  return Promise.all([
     vi.importActual<typeof import("../middleware/index.js")>("../middleware/index.js"),
     vi.importActual<typeof import("../routes/issues.js")>("../routes/issues.js"),
   ]);
+}
+
+async function createApp(actor: Record<string, unknown>) {
+  const [{ errorHandler }, { issueRoutes }] = await loadAppModules();
   const app = express();
   app.use(express.json());
   app.use((req, _res, next) => {
@@ -156,7 +160,7 @@ async function createApp(actor: Record<string, unknown>) {
 }
 
 describe("issue telemetry routes", () => {
-  beforeEach(() => {
+  beforeEach(async () => {
     vi.resetModules();
     vi.doUnmock("@paperclipai/shared/telemetry");
     vi.doUnmock("../telemetry.js");
@@ -197,7 +201,9 @@ describe("issue telemetry routes", () => {
           permissions: null,
         }]).then(onFulfilled, onRejected),
     }));
-  });
+    // Keep cold route imports in setup rather than the HTTP assertion timeout.
+    await loadAppModules();
+  }, 60_000);
 
   it("emits task-completed telemetry with the agent role, adapter type, and model", async () => {
     mockAgentService.getById.mockResolvedValue({
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/issue-thread-interaction-routes.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/issue-thread-interaction-routes.test.ts
index 4e59fade34..6594a91d49 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/issue-thread-interaction-routes.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/issue-thread-interaction-routes.test.ts
@@ -260,6 +260,13 @@ function createIssue(overrides: Record<string, unknown> = {}) {
   };
 }
 
+function loadAppModules() {
+  return Promise.all([
+    import("../routes/issues.js"),
+    import("../middleware/index.js"),
+  ]);
+}
+
 async function createApp(actor: Record<string, unknown> = {
   type: "board",
   userId: "local-board",
@@ -275,10 +282,7 @@ async function createApp(actor: Record<string, unknown> = {
       responsibleUserId: actor.onBehalfOfUserId ?? null,
     };
   }
-  const [{ issueRoutes }, { errorHandler }] = await Promise.all([
-    import("../routes/issues.js"),
-    import("../middleware/index.js"),
-  ]);
+  const [{ issueRoutes }, { errorHandler }] = await loadAppModules();
   const app = express();
   app.use(express.json());
   app.use((req, _res, next) => {
@@ -305,7 +309,7 @@ async function resolveMockInteraction(
 }
 
 describe.sequential("issue thread interaction routes", () => {
-  beforeEach(() => {
+  beforeEach(async () => {
     vi.resetModules();
     vi.doUnmock("../routes/issues.js");
     vi.doUnmock("../routes/authz.js");
@@ -577,7 +581,9 @@ describe.sequential("issue thread interaction routes", () => {
     mockCrossIssueInfluence.sourceIssueId = ISSUE_ID;
     mockCrossIssueInfluence.priorCount = 0;
     mockCrossIssueInfluence.inserted.length = 0;
-  });
+    // Keep cold route imports in setup rather than the HTTP assertion timeout.
+    await loadAppModules();
+  }, 60_000);
 
   it("creates board-authored interactions", async () => {
     const app = await createApp();