diff --git a/.serena/memories/backend/core.md b/.serena/memories/backend/core.md
index 12a9bcda25..15f0dd109d 100644
--- a/.serena/memories/backend/core.md
+++ b/.serena/memories/backend/core.md
@@ -101,9 +101,10 @@ misleading linter/compiler output. See `mem:tools/paren-repair`.
 
 ## Testing
 
-IMPORTANT: all CLI commands must be executed from the `backend/` subdirectory.
+IMPORTANT: all CLI commands must be executed from the `backend/` subdirectory. JVM tests are invoked directly via `clojure -M:dev:test` — there is no pnpm wrapper. If you need to filter output, tee to a temp file first: `clojure -M:dev:test 2>&1 | tee /tmp/penpot-test-output.txt`. See `mem:testing` for execution discipline.
 
 * **Coverage:** If code is added or modified in `src/`, corresponding tests in `test/backend_tests/` must be added or updated.
 * **Isolated run:** `clojure -M:dev:test --focus backend-tests.my-ns-test` for a specific test namespace.
 * **Regression run:** `clojure -M:dev:test` to ensure no regressions in related functional areas.
 * **Principles:** Cross-cutting testing principles, anti-patterns, and verification checklist: `mem:testing`.
+
diff --git a/.serena/memories/common/testing.md b/.serena/memories/common/testing.md
index bfd126d26f..4eda8e871f 100644
--- a/.serena/memories/common/testing.md
+++ b/.serena/memories/common/testing.md
@@ -4,20 +4,22 @@
 
 ## Unit tests
 
+READ `mem:testing` FIRST — it defines the execution discipline (no piping, tee to file, preferred commands) that applies to all CLJS/JS and JVM test runs.
+
 Common tests live under `common/test/common_tests/` and use `clojure.test`.
 They are CLJC and run on both JVM and JS.
 
 From `common/`:
 - Full JVM test run: `clojure -M:dev:test`
-- Full JS test run: `pnpm run test:quiet`
+- Full JS test run (always builds, suppressed output): `pnpm run test:quiet`
+- Full JS test run (always builds, build output visible): `pnpm run test`
 - Focus a JVM test namespace: `clojure -M:dev:test --focus common-tests.logic.variants-switch-test`
 - Focus a JVM test var: `clojure -M:dev:test --focus common-tests.logic.variants-switch-test/test-basic-switch`
 - Focus a JS test namespace: `pnpm run test:quiet -- --focus common-tests.logic.comp-sync-test`
 - Focus a JS test var: `pnpm run test:quiet -- --focus common-tests.logic.comp-sync-test/test-sync-when-changing-attribute`
 - Quiet logging during a JS run: append `--log-level warn` (or `trace|debug|info|warn|error`)
-- Build JS test target only: `pnpm run build:test`
-- After `pnpm run build:test`, direct compiled runner: `node target/tests/test.js --focus common-tests.logic.comp-sync-test/test-sync-when-changing-attribute --log-level warn`
-- Watch tests: `pnpm run watch:test`
+- Build JS test target only (no run): `pnpm run build:test`
+- After `build:test` has been run, run the compiled runner directly: `node target/tests/test.js [--focus ...] [--log-level ...]`.
 
 New common JS test namespaces must be required/listed in `common_tests/runner.cljc`;
 new vars in existing namespaces need no runner change. Multiple JVM `--focus` flags
diff --git a/.serena/memories/frontend/testing.md b/.serena/memories/frontend/testing.md
index a4e3b8f6df..c390be9755 100644
--- a/.serena/memories/frontend/testing.md
+++ b/.serena/memories/frontend/testing.md
@@ -4,15 +4,18 @@ Frontend validation: CLJS + React/Rumext + RxJS/Potok; SCSS modules; shared CLJC
 
 ## Unit tests
 
+READ `mem:testing` FIRST — it defines the execution discipline (no piping, tee to file, preferred commands) that applies to all CLJS/JS test runs.
+
 Frontend unit tests live under `frontend/test/frontend_tests/` and use `cljs.test`. They should be deterministic, avoid DOM/UI integration where possible, and mock side effects such as RPC, storage, timers, or network access.
 
 From `frontend/`:
-- Full unit test run: `pnpm run test:quiet`.
+- Full unit test run (always builds, suppressed output): `pnpm run test:quiet`.
+- Full unit test run (always builds, build output visible): `pnpm run test`.
 - Focus a frontend CLJS test namespace: `pnpm run test:quiet -- --focus frontend-tests.logic.components-and-tokens`.
 - Focus one frontend CLJS test var: `pnpm run test:quiet -- --focus frontend-tests.logic.components-and-tokens/change-spacing-token-in-main-updates-copy-layout`.
 - Quiet `app.*` logging during a run: append `--log-level warn` (or `trace|debug|info|warn|error`).
-- Build test target only: `pnpm run build:test`.
-- After `pnpm run build:test`, direct compiled runner focus is faster: `node target/tests/test.js --focus frontend-tests.logic.components-and-tokens/change-spacing-token-in-main-updates-copy-layout`.
+- Build test target only (no run): `pnpm run build:test`.
+- After `build:test` has been run, run the compiled runner directly: `node target/tests/test.js [--focus ...] [--log-level ...]`.
 - Watch tests: `pnpm run watch:test`.
 
 New frontend test namespaces must be required/listed in `frontend_tests/runner.cljs`; new vars in existing namespaces need no runner change.
diff --git a/.serena/memories/testing.md b/.serena/memories/testing.md
index 2f9f4c9131..ce4990ba12 100644
--- a/.serena/memories/testing.md
+++ b/.serena/memories/testing.md
@@ -135,6 +135,20 @@ E2E tests should not be added unless explicitly requested.
 | Snapshot abuse | Nobody reviews, break on any change | Focused assertions |
 | Skipping tests to make suite pass | Hides real failures | Fix the test or fix the code |
 
+## Execution discipline
+
+When running CLJS/JS tests (frontend, common):
+
+- **Always use `pnpm run test:quiet`** — it silently builds the test bundle then runs the test runner, giving you clean test output.
+- **Never pipe test output through `tail`, `head`, or similar filters** — doing so can silently hide test failures. Use `--focus` to narrow scope instead.
+- **If you need to filter output, tee to a temp file first:** `pnpm run test:quiet 2>&1 | tee /tmp/penpot-test-output.txt`. The full output is preserved on disk so you can `grep`/`tail`/`head` the file without re-running.
+- Use `pnpm run test` when you want to see build output alongside test results (always builds, then runs).
+- After `build:test` has been run once, you can invoke the runner directly: `node target/tests/test.js [--focus ...] [--log-level ...]`.
+
+When running JVM tests (backend, common):
+- Use `clojure -M:dev:test` directly (no pnpm wrapper).
+- The same no-piping rule applies: use `--focus` to narrow scope.
+
 ## Verification Checklist
 
 After completing any implementation:
diff --git a/backend/package.json b/backend/package.json
index 8c99fa923c..96bd4cbada 100644
--- a/backend/package.json
+++ b/backend/package.json
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@
   "scripts": {
     "lint": "clj-kondo --parallel --lint ../common/src src/",
     "check-fmt": "cljfmt check --parallel=true src/ test/",
-    "fmt": "cljfmt fix --parallel=true src/ test/",
-    "test": "clojure -M:dev:test"
+    "fmt": "cljfmt fix --parallel=true src/ test/"
   }
 }
diff --git a/common/package.json b/common/package.json
index 7813de8e87..19257d3ee6 100644
--- a/common/package.json
+++ b/common/package.json
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@
     "lint": "pnpm run lint:clj",
     "watch:test": "concurrently \"clojure -M:dev:shadow-cljs watch test\" \"nodemon -C -d 2 -w target/tests/ --exec 'node target/tests/test.js'\"",
     "build:test": "clojure -M:dev:shadow-cljs compile test",
-    "test:js": "[ -f target/tests/test.js ] || pnpm run build:test; node target/tests/test.js",
-    "test:quiet": "node ./scripts/test-quiet.js",
-    "test:jvm": "clojure -M:dev:test"
+    "test": "pnpm run build:test && node target/tests/test.js",
+    "test:quiet": "node ./scripts/test-quiet.js"
   }
 }
diff --git a/common/scripts/test-quiet.js b/common/scripts/test-quiet.js
index 6b614c74c4..b1be0dd682 100644
--- a/common/scripts/test-quiet.js
+++ b/common/scripts/test-quiet.js
@@ -1,18 +1,23 @@
 import { spawnSync } from "node:child_process";
 
+const BUILD_STEPS = [
+  { label: "Building test bundle", cmd: "pnpm", args: ["run", "build:test"] },
+];
+
 const progress = (msg) => process.stderr.write(`${msg}\n`);
 
-progress("Building test bundle...");
-const build = spawnSync("pnpm", ["run", "build:test"], {
-  stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
-  maxBuffer: 64 * 1024 * 1024,
-});
-
-if (build.status !== 0) {
-  progress("Building test bundle failed");
-  if (build.stdout?.length) process.stdout.write(build.stdout);
-  if (build.stderr?.length) process.stderr.write(build.stderr);
-  process.exit(build.status ?? 1);
+for (const step of BUILD_STEPS) {
+  progress(`${step.label}...`);
+  const result = spawnSync(step.cmd, step.args, {
+    stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"],
+    maxBuffer: 64 * 1024 * 1024,
+  });
+  if (result.status !== 0) {
+    progress(`${step.label} failed`);
+    if (result.stdout?.length) process.stdout.write(result.stdout);
+    if (result.stderr?.length) process.stderr.write(result.stderr);
+    process.exit(result.status ?? 1);
+  }
 }
 
 progress("Running tests...");
@@ -21,5 +26,4 @@ const result = spawnSync(
   ["target/tests/test.js", ...process.argv.slice(2)],
   { stdio: "inherit" },
 );
-
 process.exit(result.status ?? 1);
diff --git a/frontend/package.json b/frontend/package.json
index 4e0b3f365d..32da31fbf9 100644
--- a/frontend/package.json
+++ b/frontend/package.json
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
     "lint:js": "exit 0",
     "lint:scss": "pnpm exec stylelint '{src,resources}/**/*.scss'",
     "build:test": "pnpm run build:wasm && clojure -M:dev:shadow-cljs compile test",
-    "test": "[ -f target/tests/test.js ] || pnpm run build:test; node target/tests/test.js",
+    "test": "pnpm run build:test && node target/tests/test.js",
     "test:quiet": "node ./scripts/test-quiet.js",
     "test:storybook": "vitest run --project=storybook",
     "watch:test": "mkdir -p target/tests && concurrently \"clojure -M:dev:shadow-cljs watch test\" \"nodemon -C -d 2 -w target/tests --exec 'node target/tests/test.js'\"",