diff --git a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/approvals.rs b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/approvals.rs
index c393c539a6..e4583327e4 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/approvals.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/approvals.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 #![allow(clippy::unwrap_used, clippy::expect_used)]
 
 use anyhow::Result;
+use codex_config::types::ApprovalsReviewer;
 use codex_core::CodexThread;
 use codex_core::config::Constrained;
 use codex_core::config_loader::ConfigLayerStack;
@@ -591,7 +592,7 @@ async fn submit_turn(
             final_output_json_schema: None,
             cwd: test.cwd.path().to_path_buf(),
             approval_policy,
-            approvals_reviewer: None,
+            approvals_reviewer: Some(ApprovalsReviewer::User),
             sandbox_policy,
             permission_profile: None,
             model: session_model,
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/otel.rs b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/otel.rs
index f93945e78f..7dcbaebd24 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/otel.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/otel.rs
@@ -1132,7 +1132,11 @@ async fn handle_container_exec_user_approved_records_tool_decision() {
     mount_sse_once(
         &server,
         sse(vec![
-            ev_local_shell_call("user_approved_call", "completed", vec!["/bin/date"]),
+            ev_local_shell_call(
+                "user_approved_call",
+                "completed",
+                vec!["/usr/bin/touch", "codex-otel-approval-test"],
+            ),
             ev_completed("done"),
         ]),
     )
@@ -1200,7 +1204,11 @@ async fn handle_container_exec_user_approved_for_session_records_tool_decision()
     mount_sse_once(
         &server,
         sse(vec![
-            ev_local_shell_call("user_approved_session_call", "completed", vec!["/bin/date"]),
+            ev_local_shell_call(
+                "user_approved_session_call",
+                "completed",
+                vec!["/usr/bin/touch", "codex-otel-approval-test"],
+            ),
             ev_completed("done"),
         ]),
     )
@@ -1267,7 +1275,11 @@ async fn handle_sandbox_error_user_approves_retry_records_tool_decision() {
     mount_sse_once(
         &server,
         sse(vec![
-            ev_local_shell_call("sandbox_retry_call", "completed", vec!["/bin/date"]),
+            ev_local_shell_call(
+                "sandbox_retry_call",
+                "completed",
+                vec!["/usr/bin/touch", "codex-otel-approval-test"],
+            ),
             ev_completed("done"),
         ]),
     )
@@ -1334,7 +1346,11 @@ async fn handle_container_exec_user_denies_records_tool_decision() {
     mount_sse_once(
         &server,
         sse(vec![
-            ev_local_shell_call("user_denied_call", "completed", vec!["/bin/date"]),
+            ev_local_shell_call(
+                "user_denied_call",
+                "completed",
+                vec!["/usr/bin/touch", "codex-otel-approval-test"],
+            ),
             ev_completed("done"),
         ]),
     )
@@ -1401,7 +1417,11 @@ async fn handle_sandbox_error_user_approves_for_session_records_tool_decision()
     mount_sse_once(
         &server,
         sse(vec![
-            ev_local_shell_call("sandbox_session_call", "completed", vec!["/bin/date"]),
+            ev_local_shell_call(
+                "sandbox_session_call",
+                "completed",
+                vec!["/usr/bin/touch", "codex-otel-approval-test"],
+            ),
             ev_completed("done"),
         ]),
     )
@@ -1468,7 +1488,11 @@ async fn handle_sandbox_error_user_denies_records_tool_decision() {
     mount_sse_once(
         &server,
         sse(vec![
-            ev_local_shell_call("sandbox_deny_call", "completed", vec!["/bin/date"]),
+            ev_local_shell_call(
+                "sandbox_deny_call",
+                "completed",
+                vec!["/usr/bin/touch", "codex-otel-approval-test"],
+            ),
             ev_completed("done"),
         ]),
     )
diff --git a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/permissions_messages.rs b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/permissions_messages.rs
index 5114c8c3c8..76aea28ba4 100644
--- a/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/permissions_messages.rs
+++ b/codex-rs/core/tests/suite/permissions_messages.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use anyhow::Result;
 use codex_core::ForkSnapshot;
 use codex_core::config::Constrained;
+use codex_core::config_loader::ConfigLayerStack;
 use codex_core::context::ContextualUserFragment;
 use codex_core::context::PermissionsInstructions;
 use codex_core::load_exec_policy;
@@ -537,6 +538,7 @@ async fn permissions_message_includes_writable_roots() -> Result<()> {
     let mut builder = test_codex().with_config(move |config| {
         config.permissions.approval_policy = Constrained::allow_any(AskForApproval::OnRequest);
         config.permissions.sandbox_policy = Constrained::allow_any(sandbox_policy_for_config);
+        config.config_layer_stack = ConfigLayerStack::default();
     });
     let test = builder.build(&server).await?;