diff --git a/stations_test.go b/stations_test.go
index 832c8aa..4c33ed2 100644
--- a/stations_test.go
+++ b/stations_test.go
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	"github.com/gmgauthier/gostations/internal/config"
+	playerpkg "github.com/gmgauthier/gostations/internal/player"
 	"github.com/gmgauthier/gostations/internal/radio"
 	ver "github.com/gmgauthier/gostations/internal/version"
 )
@@ -82,6 +84,14 @@ func TestPrecheck_Unit(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Parallel()
 	t.Log("✓ Fast precheck unit test")
 
+	p := "mpv"
+	if v, err := config.Get("player.command"); err == nil && v != "" {
+		p = v
+	}
+	if !playerpkg.IsInstalled(p) {
+		t.Skipf("%s is either not installed, or not on your $PATH; skipping real precheck() call in unit test (see TestPrecheck_Live)", p)
+	}
+
 	// Simple smoke test — calls the real precheck() in the common "player installed" path
 	// (no mocking of globals — that's not allowed in Go)
 	precheck()