diff --git a/src/backend/vitest.config.ts b/src/backend/vitest.config.ts
index 0a2b29318..628a4f957 100644
--- a/src/backend/vitest.config.ts
+++ b/src/backend/vitest.config.ts
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ import { defineConfig } from 'vitest/config';
 export default defineConfig(({ mode }) => ({
     test: {
         globals: true,
-        setupFiles: [],
+        setupFiles: ['./vitest.setup.js'],
         coverage: {
             provider: 'v8',
             reporter: ['text', 'json', 'json-summary', 'html', 'lcov'],
diff --git a/src/backend/vitest.setup.js b/src/backend/vitest.setup.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..233c04177
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/backend/vitest.setup.js
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+// Vitest setup file - runs before all test files
+// Initializes globalThis.kv which is required by PermissionService and other services
+
+import { kv } from './src/util/kvSingleton';
+globalThis.kv = kv;