diff --git a/src/tests/setup/integration-global-setup.ts b/src/tests/setup/integration-global-setup.ts
index d4ae6413..4a8e40b4 100644
--- a/src/tests/setup/integration-global-setup.ts
+++ b/src/tests/setup/integration-global-setup.ts
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ export async function setup() {
         if (!response.ok) return false;
         const text = await response.text();
         return text === 'pong';
-    } catch (error) {
+    } catch (e) {
+        logger.debug('Ping failed while waiting for server, this is expected.', { error: e });
         return false;
     }
   };
diff --git a/vitest.config.integration.ts b/vitest.config.integration.ts
index 84dadc70..ac3260f8 100644
--- a/vitest.config.integration.ts
+++ b/vitest.config.integration.ts
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ export default mergeConfig(viteConfig, defineConfig({
     // The path must be specific. By default, Vitest doesn't look in `src`
     // unless the pattern explicitly includes it.
     include: ['src/**/*.integration.test.ts'],
+    // CRITICAL: We must override the `exclude` property from the base vite.config.ts.
+    // Otherwise, the inherited `exclude` rule will prevent any integration tests from running.
+    // Setting it to an empty array removes all exclusion rules for this project.
+    exclude: [],
     // This setup script starts the backend server before tests run.
     globalSetup: './src/tests/setup/integration-global-setup.ts',
     testTimeout: 15000, // Increased timeout for server startup and API calls.