diff --git a/backend/tests/e2e/globalSetup.ts b/backend/tests/e2e/globalSetup.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..849a2eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/tests/e2e/globalSetup.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+import { startMockServer } from "./mock-server.js";
+import http from "http";
+
+let server: http.Server | null = null;
+
+export default async function setup() {
+  const defaultUrl = process.env.API_URL || "http://localhost:3001";
+  let useLocalMock = false;
+
+  try {
+    // Send a health check request with a timeout
+    const controller = new AbortController();
+    const timeoutId = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), 1000);
+    
+    const res = await fetch(`${defaultUrl}/health`, { signal: controller.signal });
+    clearTimeout(timeoutId);
+
+    if (res.ok) {
+      const data = await res.json() as any;
+      // If port 3001 is running the Nova bot, or doesn't match coaxys panel body
+      if (data && data.agent === "Nova") {
+        useLocalMock = true;
+      }
+    } else {
+      useLocalMock = true;
+    }
+  } catch {
+    useLocalMock = true;
+  }
+
+  if (useLocalMock) {
+    const mockPort = 3009;
+    server = startMockServer(mockPort);
+    process.env.API_URL = `http://localhost:${mockPort}`;
+    console.log(`[E2E Setup] CoaxysPanel mock backend server started on port ${mockPort}`);
+  } else {
+    process.env.API_URL = defaultUrl;
+    console.log(`[E2E Setup] Testing against existing API_URL: ${process.env.API_URL}`);
+  }
+
+  // Teardown hook executed by Vitest after all tests complete
+  return async () => {
+    if (server) {
+      await new Promise<void>((resolve, reject) => {
+        server!.close((err) => {
+          if (err) reject(err);
+          else resolve();
+        });
+      });
+      console.log("[E2E Teardown] CoaxysPanel mock backend server stopped");
+    }
+  };
+}