diff --git a/core/cli/test.el b/core/cli/test.el
index 5b9d18f41..cb5e32c23 100644
--- a/core/cli/test.el
+++ b/core/cli/test.el
@@ -18,8 +18,6 @@ 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 30e583806..010ac1eaa 100644
--- a/core/packages.el
+++ b/core/packages.el
@@ -45,5 +45,4 @@
 (package! esup)
 
 ;; cli/test.el
-;; buttercup is installed on demand, so avoid uninstalling it if present
-(package! buttercup :ignore t)
+(package! buttercup)