diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 34dcb2b..260dbb9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Tests
         run: |
-          pytest -q || true
+          python -m pytest -q || true
 
       - name: Theme catalog validation (non-strict)
         run: |
@@ -56,4 +56,4 @@ jobs:
           CSV_FILES_DIR: csv_files/testdata
           RANDOM_MODES: "1"
         run: |
-          pytest -q code/tests/test_random_determinism.py code/tests/test_random_build_api.py code/tests/test_seeded_builder_minimal.py code/tests/test_builder_rng_seeded_stream.py
+          python -m pytest -q code/tests/test_random_determinism.py code/tests/test_random_build_api.py code/tests/test_seeded_builder_minimal.py code/tests/test_builder_rng_seeded_stream.py
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index dd3bc0d..34a4030 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ This format follows Keep a Changelog principles and aims for Semantic Versioning
 ## [Unreleased]
 ### Changed
 - Theme catalog schema now accepts optional `id` values on entries so refreshed catalogs validate cleanly.
+- CI installs `httpx` with the rest of the web stack and runs pytest via `python -m pytest` so FastAPI tests resolve the local `code` package correctly.
 
 ### Fixed
 - Regenerated `logs/perf/theme_preview_warm_baseline.json` to repair preview performance CI regressions caused by a malformed baseline file and verified the regression gate passes with the refreshed data.
diff --git a/RELEASE_NOTES_TEMPLATE.md b/RELEASE_NOTES_TEMPLATE.md
index ca34120..bf845dc 100644
--- a/RELEASE_NOTES_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/RELEASE_NOTES_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Summary
 - Hardened theme catalog schema to accept optional IDs and refreshed the preview performance baseline to keep CI checks green.
+- CI updates install the missing `httpx` dependency and run pytest through `python -m` to ensure the web stack tests import the local package correctly.
 - Delivered multi-theme random builds with deterministic cascade, strict match support, and polished HTMX/UI flows.
 - Added opt-in telemetry counters, reroll throttling safeguards, and structured diagnostics exports.
 - Expanded tooling, documentation, and QA coverage for theme governance, performance profiling, and seed history management.
@@ -29,6 +30,7 @@
 
 ### Maintenance & CI
 - Theme catalog schema now accepts optional IDs and the preview performance warm baseline was regenerated to restore the regression gate.
+- GitHub Actions now includes `httpx` in the default dependency install and executes pytest via `python -m` so FastAPI TestClient suites run without import errors.
 
 ## Detailed changes
 ### Added
diff --git a/requirements.txt b/requirements.txt
index 8034289..767cd76 100644
--- a/requirements.txt
+++ b/requirements.txt
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ prettytable>=3.9.0
 # Web UI stack (FastAPI + Jinja + HTMX served via CDN)
 fastapi>=0.110.0
 uvicorn[standard]>=0.28.0
+httpx>=0.27.0
 Jinja2>=3.1.0
 python-multipart>=0.0.9