diff --git a/core/cli/test.el b/core/cli/test.el
index b2f61fa85..daf1dd815 100644
--- a/core/cli/test.el
+++ b/core/cli/test.el
@@ -43,9 +43,7 @@
                          (require 'core ,(locate-library "core"))
                          (doom-initialize 'force)
                          (doom-initialize-modules)
-                         (unless (package-installed-p 'buttercup)
-                           (package-refresh-contents)
-                           (package-install 'buttercup))
+                         (require 'core-cli)
                          (doom-reload-core-autoloads 'force)
                          (when (doom-packages-install 'auto-accept)
                            (doom-reload-package-autoloads 'force))))))
diff --git a/core/test/packages.el b/core/test/packages.el
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a5f245786
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/test/packages.el
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+;; -*- no-byte-compile: t; -*-
+;;; core/test/packages.el
+
+(package! buttercup)