diff --git a/ai-docs/patterns/testing-patterns.md b/ai-docs/patterns/testing-patterns.md
index 3633bc811..ce7858950 100644
--- a/ai-docs/patterns/testing-patterns.md
+++ b/ai-docs/patterns/testing-patterns.md
@@ -214,6 +214,12 @@ yarn test:styles       # style tests across workspaces
 yarn workspace @webex/cc-user-state test:unit   # a single package
 ```
 
+Each package's `test:unit` (and root `test:tooling`) pins `NODE_ENV=test` on the `jest`
+invocation. Jest only defaults `NODE_ENV` to `test` when it is *unset*; in a CI pod that already
+exports `NODE_ENV=production`, React loads its production build and `act(...)` throws
+(`act(...) is not supported in production builds of React`). Pinning it keeps tests correct
+regardless of the ambient environment.
+
 **Where it appears**
 - Root `package.json` `scripts` block (`test:unit`, `test:cc-widgets`, `test:e2e`, `test:styles`, `test:tooling`, `test:meetings-widget`).
 
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7b97e8262..52fa13a51 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
     "test:unit": "yarn run test:tooling && yarn run test:cc-widgets && yarn run test:meetings-widget",
     "test:e2e": "yarn playwright test",
     "test:styles": "yarn workspaces foreach --all --exclude webex-widgets run test:styles",
-    "test:tooling": "jest --coverage",
+    "test:tooling": "NODE_ENV=test jest --coverage",
     "test:cc-widgets": "yarn workspaces foreach --all --exclude webex-widgets --exclude samples-cc-wc-app --exclude samples-cc-react-app run test:unit",
     "test:meetings-widget": "yarn workspaces foreach --all --verbose --include @webex/widgets run test:unit",
     "build:dev": "NODE_ENV=development yarn build",
diff --git a/packages/@webex/widgets/package.json b/packages/@webex/widgets/package.json
index 465b98c47..ae1212468 100644
--- a/packages/@webex/widgets/package.json
+++ b/packages/@webex/widgets/package.json
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
     "release:debug": "semantic-release --debug",
     "release:dry-run": "semantic-release --dry-run",
     "start": "npm run demo:serve",
-    "test:unit": "jest --config jest.config.js --coverage",
+    "test:unit": "NODE_ENV=test jest --config jest.config.js --coverage",
     "test:e2e": "npm run demo:build && wdio wdio.conf.js",
     "test:eslint": "echo 'Broken eslint tests'",
     "test:eslint:broken": "eslint src/"
diff --git a/packages/contact-center/cc-components/package.json b/packages/contact-center/cc-components/package.json
index b4ffc878d..a6680cf4c 100644
--- a/packages/contact-center/cc-components/package.json
+++ b/packages/contact-center/cc-components/package.json
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     "build": "yarn run -T tsc",
     "build:src": "yarn run clean:dist && webpack",
     "build:watch": "webpack --watch",
-    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && jest --coverage",
+    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && NODE_ENV=test jest --coverage",
     "test:styles": "eslint",
     "deploy:npm": "yarn npm publish"
   },
diff --git a/packages/contact-center/cc-digital-channels/package.json b/packages/contact-center/cc-digital-channels/package.json
index 32f9b81d3..bf207c9f5 100644
--- a/packages/contact-center/cc-digital-channels/package.json
+++ b/packages/contact-center/cc-digital-channels/package.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     "build": "yarn run -T tsc",
     "build:src": "yarn run clean:dist && yarn run build && webpack",
     "build:watch": "webpack --watch",
-    "test:unit": "jest --coverage",
+    "test:unit": "NODE_ENV=test jest --coverage",
     "test:styles": "eslint",
     "deploy:npm": "yarn npm publish"
   },
diff --git a/packages/contact-center/cc-widgets/package.json b/packages/contact-center/cc-widgets/package.json
index c92b7c04d..2ea3210db 100644
--- a/packages/contact-center/cc-widgets/package.json
+++ b/packages/contact-center/cc-widgets/package.json
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
     "build": "yarn run -T tsc",
     "build:src": "yarn run clean:dist && webpack",
     "build:watch": "webpack --watch",
-    "test:unit": "jest --coverage",
+    "test:unit": "NODE_ENV=test jest --coverage",
     "test:styles": "eslint",
     "deploy:npm": "yarn npm publish"
   },
diff --git a/packages/contact-center/station-login/package.json b/packages/contact-center/station-login/package.json
index 38df3464a..624aa716d 100644
--- a/packages/contact-center/station-login/package.json
+++ b/packages/contact-center/station-login/package.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     "build": "yarn run -T tsc",
     "build:src": "yarn run clean:dist && webpack",
     "build:watch": "webpack --watch",
-    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && jest --coverage",
+    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && NODE_ENV=test jest --coverage",
     "test:styles": "eslint",
     "deploy:npm": "yarn npm publish"
   },
diff --git a/packages/contact-center/store/package.json b/packages/contact-center/store/package.json
index 4718ab223..a113038a2 100644
--- a/packages/contact-center/store/package.json
+++ b/packages/contact-center/store/package.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     "build": "yarn run -T tsc",
     "build:src": "yarn run clean:dist && webpack",
     "build:watch": "webpack --watch",
-    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && jest --coverage",
+    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && NODE_ENV=test jest --coverage",
     "test:styles": "eslint",
     "deploy:npm": "yarn npm publish"
   },
diff --git a/packages/contact-center/task/package.json b/packages/contact-center/task/package.json
index 41c1880c5..c1ae0b38f 100644
--- a/packages/contact-center/task/package.json
+++ b/packages/contact-center/task/package.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     "build": "yarn run -T tsc",
     "build:src": "yarn run clean:dist && webpack",
     "build:watch": "webpack --watch",
-    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && jest --coverage",
+    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && NODE_ENV=test jest --coverage",
     "test:styles": "eslint",
     "deploy:npm": "yarn npm publish"
   },
diff --git a/packages/contact-center/ui-logging/package.json b/packages/contact-center/ui-logging/package.json
index af1debf95..4dbdb194d 100644
--- a/packages/contact-center/ui-logging/package.json
+++ b/packages/contact-center/ui-logging/package.json
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
     "build:src": "webpack --mode=development",
     "clean": "rm -rf dist",
     "clean:dist": "rm -rf dist",
-    "test:unit": "jest --coverage",
+    "test:unit": "NODE_ENV=test jest --coverage",
     "test:styles": "echo 'No styles to test'",
     "deploy:npm": "yarn npm publish"
   },
diff --git a/packages/contact-center/user-state/package.json b/packages/contact-center/user-state/package.json
index ffbb726d9..55ce2df74 100644
--- a/packages/contact-center/user-state/package.json
+++ b/packages/contact-center/user-state/package.json
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
     "build": "yarn run -T tsc",
     "build:src": "yarn run clean:dist && webpack",
     "build:watch": "webpack --watch",
-    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && jest --coverage",
+    "test:unit": "tsc --project tsconfig.test.json && NODE_ENV=test jest --coverage",
     "test:styles": "eslint",
     "deploy:npm": "yarn npm publish"
   },