diff --git a/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/tasks/NunjucksWorkflowRunner.test.ts b/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/tasks/NunjucksWorkflowRunner.test.ts
index 3990ac14b6..5a931f2da0 100644
--- a/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/tasks/NunjucksWorkflowRunner.test.ts
+++ b/plugins/scaffolder-backend/src/scaffolder/tasks/NunjucksWorkflowRunner.test.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ import {
   mockCredentials,
   mockServices,
 } from '@backstage/backend-test-utils';
-import stripAnsi from 'strip-ansi';
 import { loggerToWinstonLogger } from '@backstage/backend-common';
 import { LoggerService } from '@backstage/backend-plugin-api';
 
@@ -48,6 +47,7 @@ describe('NunjucksWorkflowRunner', () => {
   let runner: NunjucksWorkflowRunner;
   let fakeActionHandler: jest.Mock;
   let fakeTaskLog: jest.Mock;
+  let stripAnsi: typeof import('strip-ansi').default;
 
   const mockDir = createMockDirectory();
 
@@ -92,9 +92,12 @@ describe('NunjucksWorkflowRunner', () => {
     );
   }
 
-  beforeEach(() => {
+  beforeEach(async () => {
     mockDir.clear();
 
+    // This one is ESM-only
+    stripAnsi = await import('strip-ansi').then(m => m.default);
+
     jest.resetAllMocks();
     logger = mockServices.logger.mock();
     actionRegistry = new TemplateActionRegistry();