diff --git a/core/cli/test.el b/core/cli/test.el
index cb5e32c23..5b9d18f41 100644
--- a/core/cli/test.el
+++ b/core/cli/test.el
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ If neither is available, run all tests in all enabled modules."
   (let* ((noninteractive t)
          (doom-modules (doom-modules)))
     (quiet! (doom-reload-autoloads))
+    (unless (package-installed-p 'buttercup)
+      (package-install 'buttercup t))
     (let ((target-paths
            ;; Convert targets into a list of string paths, pointing to the root
            ;; directory of modules
diff --git a/core/packages.el b/core/packages.el
index fdfe7cd54..7e91b39f2 100644
--- a/core/packages.el
+++ b/core/packages.el
@@ -47,5 +47,6 @@
 ;; autoload/debug.el
 (package! esup)
 
-;; autoload/test.el
-(package! buttercup)
+;; cli/test.el
+;; buttercup is installed on demand, so avoid uninstalling it if present
+(package! buttercup :ignore t)