diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/build/lib/runner/runBackend.test.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/build/lib/runner/runBackend.test.ts
index 11018b0783..fbffec92d3 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/build/lib/runner/runBackend.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/build/lib/runner/runBackend.test.ts
@@ -60,12 +60,9 @@ describe('runBackend', () => {
 
     // Save original environment
     originalEnv = { ...process.env };
+    process.env = {};
     originalPlatform = process.platform;
 
-    // Clear environment variables that we're testing
-    delete process.env.NODE_ENV;
-    delete process.env.NODE_OPTIONS;
-
     // Mock process.stdin.on to prevent actual stdin reading
     jest.spyOn(process.stdin, 'on').mockReturnValue(process.stdin);
 
diff --git a/packages/cli/src/modules/test/commands/repo/test.ts b/packages/cli/src/modules/test/commands/repo/test.ts
index fd18ba09fe..40e6666dcf 100644
--- a/packages/cli/src/modules/test/commands/repo/test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/src/modules/test/commands/repo/test.ts
@@ -289,6 +289,14 @@ export async function command(opts: OptionValues, cmd: Command): Promise<void> {
     process.env.TZ = 'UTC';
   }
 
+  // Unless the user explicitly toggles node-snapshot, default to provide --no-node-snapshot to reduce number of steps to run scaffolder
+  //  on Node LTS.
+  if (!process.env.NODE_OPTIONS?.includes('--node-snapshot')) {
+    process.env.NODE_OPTIONS = `${
+      process.env.NODE_OPTIONS ? `${process.env.NODE_OPTIONS} ` : ''
+    }--no-node-snapshot`;
+  }
+
   // This ensures that the process doesn't exit too early before stdout is flushed
   if (args.includes('--jest-help')) {
     removeOptionArg(args, '--jest-help');