diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/test_llm_as_a_judge.py b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/test_llm_as_a_judge.py
index 21f58bcee4b..2c121022cd2 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/test_llm_as_a_judge.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/proxy/guardrails/test_llm_as_a_judge.py
@@ -156,9 +156,11 @@ def test_initialize_guardrail_preserves_every_mode_shape(
     lp: Final = _make_litellm_params(mode=mode)
     instance: Final = initialize_guardrail(lp, _make_guardrail_dict())
     request_data: Final[dict[str, object]] = {"metadata": {"guardrails": ["g"], "tags": ["judge"]}}
+    premium: Final = patch("litellm.proxy.proxy_server.premium_user", True)  # test-quality-ok: no seam for Mode tags
     try:
-        assert instance.should_run_guardrail(request_data, GuardrailEventHooks.pre_call) is runs_pre_call
-        assert instance.should_run_guardrail(request_data, GuardrailEventHooks.post_call) is runs_post_call
+        with premium:
+            assert instance.should_run_guardrail(request_data, GuardrailEventHooks.pre_call) is runs_pre_call
+            assert instance.should_run_guardrail(request_data, GuardrailEventHooks.post_call) is runs_post_call
     finally:
         litellm.logging_callback_manager.remove_callback_from_all_lists(instance)