diff --git a/.fabro/project.toml b/.fabro/project.toml
index 24f0d8384..fdc5cea87 100644
--- a/.fabro/project.toml
+++ b/.fabro/project.toml
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ draft = false
 
 [run.sandbox]
 provider = "daytona"
+preserve = true
 
 [run.sandbox.daytona]
 auto_stop_interval = 30
diff --git a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/attach.rs b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/attach.rs
index 795ff19a2..bfd19be7b 100644
--- a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/attach.rs
+++ b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/attach.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use serde_json::Value;
 use super::support::{
     output_stdout, resolve_run, server_endpoint, wait_for_status, write_gated_workflow,
 };
-use crate::support::{example_fixture, fabro_json_snapshot, run_output_filters, unique_run_id};
+use crate::support::{fabro_json_snapshot, run_output_filters, unique_run_id};
 
 const SHARED_DAEMON_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_secs(30);
 
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ fn wait_for_output_signal(
 fn attach_replays_completed_detached_run() {
     let context = test_context!();
     let run_id = unique_run_id();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
 
     context
         .command()
@@ -132,7 +133,7 @@ fn attach_replays_completed_detached_run() {
             "--detach",
             "--run-id",
             run_id.as_str(),
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .assert()
         .success();
diff --git a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/run.rs b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/run.rs
index 71c2a1e46..519984f6f 100644
--- a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/run.rs
+++ b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/run.rs
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ use httpmock::MockServer;
 use serde_json::Value;
 
 use super::support::{output_stderr, wait_for_event_names};
-use crate::support::{example_fixture, fabro_json_snapshot, run_output_filters, unique_run_id};
+use crate::support::{fabro_json_snapshot, run_output_filters, unique_run_id};
 
 fn run_status_response(run_id: &str, status: &str) -> serde_json::Value {
     serde_json::json!({
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ fn detach_uses_explicit_server_target_and_prints_remote_run_id() {
             .body(run_status_response(run_id.as_str(), "queued").to_string());
     });
 
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let output = context
         .run_cmd()
         .args([
@@ -193,7 +194,7 @@ fn detach_uses_explicit_server_target_and_prints_remote_run_id() {
             "--detach",
             "--dry-run",
             "--auto-approve",
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .output()
         .expect("command should execute");
@@ -239,13 +240,14 @@ fn detach_uses_configured_server_target_without_server_flag() {
         ),
     );
 
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let output = context
         .run_cmd()
         .args([
             "--detach",
             "--dry-run",
             "--auto-approve",
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .output()
         .expect("command should execute");
@@ -358,6 +360,7 @@ digraph VaultWorkerLlm {
 #[test]
 fn detach_rejects_storage_dir_flag() {
     let context = test_context!();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let output = context
         .run_cmd()
         .args([
@@ -367,7 +370,7 @@ fn detach_rejects_storage_dir_flag() {
             "--dry-run",
             "--auto-approve",
             "--no-retro",
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .output()
         .expect("command should execute");
@@ -417,6 +420,7 @@ fn detach_cli_server_target_overrides_configured_server_target() {
         ),
     );
 
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let output = context
         .run_cmd()
         .args([
@@ -425,7 +429,7 @@ fn detach_cli_server_target_overrides_configured_server_target() {
             "--detach",
             "--dry-run",
             "--auto-approve",
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .output()
         .expect("command should execute");
@@ -521,6 +525,7 @@ fn remote_foreground_run_consumes_paginated_events_and_prints_server_backed_summ
             .body(remote_run_state_response().to_string());
     });
 
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let output = context
         .run_cmd()
         .args([
@@ -528,7 +533,7 @@ fn remote_foreground_run_consumes_paginated_events_and_prints_server_backed_summ
             &format!("{}/api/v1", server.base_url()),
             "--dry-run",
             "--auto-approve",
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .output()
         .expect("command should execute");
@@ -630,16 +635,17 @@ include = ["assets/**"]
 #[test]
 fn dry_run_simple() {
     let context = test_context!();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.args(["--dry-run", "--auto-approve"]);
-    cmd.arg(example_fixture("simple.fabro"));
+    cmd.arg(&workflow);
     fabro_snapshot!(run_output_filters(&context), cmd, @"
     success: true
     exit_code: 0
     ----- stdout -----
     ----- stderr -----
     Workflow: Simple (4 nodes, 3 edges)
-    Graph: [FIXTURES]/simple.fabro
+    Graph: [TEMP_DIR]/simple.fabro
     Goal: Run tests and report results
 
         Run: [ULID]
@@ -671,10 +677,11 @@ fn dry_run_with_goal_file_reads_contents_into_goal() {
     let goal_path = goal_dir.path().join("goal.md");
     std::fs::write(&goal_path, "Ship the rate-limiting feature end to end.\n").unwrap();
 
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.args(["--dry-run", "--auto-approve", "--goal-file"]);
     cmd.arg(&goal_path);
-    cmd.arg(example_fixture("simple.fabro"));
+    cmd.arg(&workflow);
 
     let output = cmd.output().expect("run command should execute");
     assert!(
@@ -698,10 +705,11 @@ fn dry_run_rejects_goal_and_goal_file_together() {
     let goal_path = goal_dir.path().join("goal.md");
     std::fs::write(&goal_path, "never read").unwrap();
 
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.args(["--dry-run", "--goal", "inline override", "--goal-file"]);
     cmd.arg(&goal_path);
-    cmd.arg(example_fixture("simple.fabro"));
+    cmd.arg(&workflow);
     let output = cmd.output().expect("run command should execute");
     assert!(
         !output.status.success(),
@@ -720,6 +728,7 @@ fn dry_run_rejects_goal_and_goal_file_together() {
 fn dry_run_persists_event_history_in_store() {
     let context = test_context!();
     let run_id = unique_run_id();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
 
     context
         .command()
@@ -731,7 +740,7 @@ fn dry_run_persists_event_history_in_store() {
             "local",
             "--run-id",
             run_id.as_str(),
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .assert()
         .success();
@@ -818,6 +827,7 @@ fn dry_run_persists_event_history_in_store() {
 fn run_id_passthrough_uses_provided_ulid() {
     let context = test_context!();
     let run_id = unique_run_id();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
 
     context
         .command()
@@ -827,7 +837,7 @@ fn run_id_passthrough_uses_provided_ulid() {
             "--auto-approve",
             "--run-id",
             run_id.as_str(),
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .assert()
         .success();
@@ -902,12 +912,13 @@ fn json_run_requires_manual_input_for_human_gates_without_auto_approve() {
 #[test]
 fn detach_prints_ulid_and_exits() {
     let context = test_context!();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.args([
         "--detach",
         "--dry-run",
         "--auto-approve",
-        example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+        workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
     ]);
     fabro_snapshot!(context.filters(), cmd, @"
     success: true
@@ -922,6 +933,7 @@ fn detach_prints_ulid_and_exits() {
 fn detach_creates_run_dir_with_detach_log() {
     let context = test_context!();
     let run_id = unique_run_id();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
 
     context
         .run_cmd()
@@ -931,7 +943,7 @@ fn detach_creates_run_dir_with_detach_log() {
             "--auto-approve",
             "--run-id",
             run_id.as_str(),
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .assert()
         .success();
diff --git a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/start.rs b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/start.rs
index f9c4adb4a..800989341 100644
--- a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/start.rs
+++ b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/start.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use fabro_test::{fabro_snapshot, test_context};
 
 use super::support::{output_stdout, resolve_run, wait_for_status, write_gated_workflow};
-use crate::support::{example_fixture, fabro_json_snapshot, unique_run_id};
+use crate::support::{fabro_json_snapshot, unique_run_id};
 
 const SHARED_DAEMON_TIMEOUT: std::time::Duration = std::time::Duration::from_secs(30);
 
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ fn help() {
 fn start_by_run_id_starts_created_run() {
     let context = test_context!();
     let run_id = unique_run_id();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
 
     context
         .command()
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ fn start_by_run_id_starts_created_run() {
             "--auto-approve",
             "--run-id",
             run_id.as_str(),
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .assert()
         .success();
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ fn start_by_run_id_starts_created_run() {
 fn start_by_run_id_starts_created_run_without_run_json_or_status_json() {
     let context = test_context!();
     let run_id = unique_run_id();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
 
     context
         .command()
@@ -96,7 +98,7 @@ fn start_by_run_id_starts_created_run_without_run_json_or_status_json() {
             "--auto-approve",
             "--run-id",
             run_id.as_str(),
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .assert()
         .success();
diff --git a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/support.rs b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/support.rs
index d08732076..b8b814fbe 100644
--- a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/support.rs
+++ b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/cmd/support.rs
@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ enum GitWorkflowKind {
     Noop,
 }
 
+/// Returns the repo-relative path to a test fixture.
+///
+/// Prefer `TestContext::install_fixture` for tests that run `fabro run`,
+/// since config discovery walks from the workflow file's parent directory
+/// and can find the repo's `.fabro/project.toml`.
 pub(crate) fn fixture(name: &str) -> PathBuf {
     Path::new(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"))
         .join(format!("../../../test/{name}"))
@@ -115,7 +120,7 @@ fn run_success_in(context: &TestContext, args: &[&str], cwd: &Path) -> Output {
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn setup_completed_dry_run(context: &TestContext) -> RunSetup {
-    let workflow = fixture("simple.fabro");
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     run_completed_dry_run(context, &workflow)
 }
 
@@ -160,7 +165,7 @@ fn run_completed_dry_run(context: &TestContext, workflow: &Path) -> RunSetup {
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn setup_created_dry_run(context: &TestContext) -> RunSetup {
-    let workflow = fixture("simple.fabro");
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     run_created_dry_run(context, &workflow)
 }
 
@@ -228,7 +233,7 @@ fn fast_simple_workflow(context: &TestContext) -> PathBuf {
     reason = "This sync integration helper polls run artifacts after spawning a detached CLI process."
 )]
 pub(crate) fn setup_detached_dry_run(context: &TestContext) -> RunSetup {
-    let workflow = fixture("simple.fabro");
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
     let run_id = unique_run_id();
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.current_dir(&context.temp_dir);
diff --git a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/scenario/lifecycle.rs b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/scenario/lifecycle.rs
index 1413f2487..895e23f92 100644
--- a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/scenario/lifecycle.rs
+++ b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/scenario/lifecycle.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use fabro_test::test_context;
 use serde_json::Value;
 
 use super::{fixture, run_state, timeout_for};
-use crate::support::{example_fixture, fabro_json_snapshot, unique_run_id};
+use crate::support::{fabro_json_snapshot, unique_run_id};
 
 #[fabro_macros::e2e_test()]
 fn local_run_lifecycle() {
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ fn local_run_lifecycle() {
 fn dry_run_create_start_attach_works_with_default_run_lookup() {
     let context = test_context!();
     let run_id = unique_run_id();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
 
     context
         .command()
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ fn dry_run_create_start_attach_works_with_default_run_lookup() {
             "--auto-approve",
             "--run-id",
             run_id.as_str(),
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .assert()
         .success();
@@ -154,6 +155,7 @@ fn dry_run_create_start_attach_works_with_default_run_lookup() {
 fn dry_run_detach_attach_works_with_default_run_lookup() {
     let context = test_context!();
     let run_id = unique_run_id();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("simple.fabro");
 
     context
         .command()
@@ -164,7 +166,7 @@ fn dry_run_detach_attach_works_with_default_run_lookup() {
             "--auto-approve",
             "--run-id",
             run_id.as_str(),
-            example_fixture("simple.fabro").to_str().unwrap(),
+            workflow.to_str().unwrap(),
         ])
         .assert()
         .success();
diff --git a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/support/mod.rs b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/support/mod.rs
index 2907f43ac..c6bc726f1 100644
--- a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/support/mod.rs
+++ b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/support/mod.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
-
 use assert_cmd::Command;
 use fabro_store::EventEnvelope;
 use fabro_test::TestContext;
@@ -44,13 +42,6 @@ macro_rules! fabro_json_snapshot {
 
 pub(crate) use fabro_json_snapshot;
 
-pub(crate) fn example_fixture(name: &str) -> PathBuf {
-    Path::new(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"))
-        .join(format!("../../../test/{name}"))
-        .canonicalize()
-        .expect("fixture path should exist")
-}
-
 pub(crate) fn run_output_filters(context: &TestContext) -> Vec<(String, String)> {
     let mut filters = context.filters();
     filters.push((r"\b\d+ms\b".to_string(), "[TIME]".to_string()));
diff --git a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/workflow/dry_run_examples.rs b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/workflow/dry_run_examples.rs
index c6c14fac5..8355667c6 100644
--- a/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/workflow/dry_run_examples.rs
+++ b/lib/crates/fabro-cli/tests/it/workflow/dry_run_examples.rs
@@ -1,20 +1,21 @@
 use fabro_test::{fabro_snapshot, test_context};
 
-use crate::support::{example_fixture, run_output_filters};
+use crate::support::run_output_filters;
 
 #[test]
 fn dry_run_branching() {
     let context = test_context!();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("branching.fabro");
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.args(["--dry-run", "--auto-approve"]);
-    cmd.arg(example_fixture("branching.fabro"));
+    cmd.arg(&workflow);
     fabro_snapshot!(run_output_filters(&context), cmd, @"
     success: true
     exit_code: 0
     ----- stdout -----
     ----- stderr -----
     Workflow: Branch (6 nodes, 6 edges)
-    Graph: [FIXTURES]/branching.fabro
+    Graph: [TEMP_DIR]/branching.fabro
     Goal: Implement and validate a feature
 
     warning [node: implement]: Node 'implement' has goal_gate=true but no retry_target or fallback_retry_target (goal_gate_has_retry)
@@ -41,16 +42,17 @@ fn dry_run_branching() {
 #[test]
 fn dry_run_conditions() {
     let context = test_context!();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("conditions.fabro");
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.args(["--dry-run", "--auto-approve"]);
-    cmd.arg(example_fixture("conditions.fabro"));
+    cmd.arg(&workflow);
     fabro_snapshot!(run_output_filters(&context), cmd, @"
     success: true
     exit_code: 0
     ----- stdout -----
     ----- stderr -----
     Workflow: Conditions (5 nodes, 5 edges)
-    Graph: [FIXTURES]/conditions.fabro
+    Graph: [TEMP_DIR]/conditions.fabro
     Goal: Test condition evaluation with OR and parentheses
 
         Run: [ULID]
@@ -74,16 +76,17 @@ fn dry_run_conditions() {
 #[test]
 fn dry_run_parallel() {
     let context = test_context!();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("parallel.fabro");
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.args(["--dry-run", "--auto-approve"]);
-    cmd.arg(example_fixture("parallel.fabro"));
+    cmd.arg(&workflow);
     fabro_snapshot!(run_output_filters(&context), cmd, @"
     success: true
     exit_code: 0
     ----- stdout -----
     ----- stderr -----
     Workflow: Parallel (7 nodes, 7 edges)
-    Graph: [FIXTURES]/parallel.fabro
+    Graph: [TEMP_DIR]/parallel.fabro
     Goal: Test parallel and fan-in execution
 
         Run: [ULID]
@@ -108,16 +111,17 @@ fn dry_run_parallel() {
 #[test]
 fn dry_run_styled() {
     let context = test_context!();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("styled.fabro");
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.args(["--dry-run", "--auto-approve"]);
-    cmd.arg(example_fixture("styled.fabro"));
+    cmd.arg(&workflow);
     fabro_snapshot!(run_output_filters(&context), cmd, @"
     success: true
     exit_code: 0
     ----- stdout -----
     ----- stderr -----
     Workflow: Styled (5 nodes, 4 edges)
-    Graph: [FIXTURES]/styled.fabro
+    Graph: [TEMP_DIR]/styled.fabro
     Goal: Build a styled pipeline
 
         Run: [ULID]
@@ -142,16 +146,17 @@ fn dry_run_styled() {
 #[test]
 fn dry_run_legacy_tool() {
     let context = test_context!();
+    let workflow = context.install_fixture("legacy_tool.fabro");
     let mut cmd = context.run_cmd();
     cmd.args(["--dry-run", "--auto-approve"]);
-    cmd.arg(example_fixture("legacy_tool.fabro"));
+    cmd.arg(&workflow);
     fabro_snapshot!(run_output_filters(&context), cmd, @"
     success: true
     exit_code: 0
     ----- stdout -----
     ----- stderr -----
     Workflow: LegacyTool (3 nodes, 2 edges)
-    Graph: [FIXTURES]/legacy_tool.fabro
+    Graph: [TEMP_DIR]/legacy_tool.fabro
     Goal: Verify backwards compatibility with old tool naming
 
         Run: [ULID]
diff --git a/lib/crates/fabro-test/src/lib.rs b/lib/crates/fabro-test/src/lib.rs
index 0ddb397fc..3046c1c7b 100644
--- a/lib/crates/fabro-test/src/lib.rs
+++ b/lib/crates/fabro-test/src/lib.rs
@@ -1105,6 +1105,25 @@ impl TestContext {
         self
     }
 
+    /// Copy a fixture file from the repo `test/` directory into `temp_dir`,
+    /// isolating the test from the repo's `.fabro/project.toml`.
+    ///
+    /// Returns the path to the copied file inside `temp_dir`.
+    pub fn install_fixture(&self, name: &str) -> PathBuf {
+        let src =
+            std::path::Path::new(env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR")).join(format!("../../../test/{name}"));
+        let src = src
+            .canonicalize()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| panic!("fixture {name} not found at {}", src.display()));
+        let dest = self.temp_dir.join(name);
+        if let Some(parent) = dest.parent() {
+            std::fs::create_dir_all(parent).expect("failed to create parent dirs");
+        }
+        std::fs::copy(&src, &dest)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| panic!("failed to copy fixture {name} to {}", dest.display()));
+        dest
+    }
+
     /// Initialize a git repository in `temp_dir`.
     #[expect(
         clippy::disallowed_methods,