diff --git a/tests/proxy_unit_tests/test_user_api_key_auth.py b/tests/proxy_unit_tests/test_user_api_key_auth.py
index 89543e42956..1a6e2eda9a1 100644
--- a/tests/proxy_unit_tests/test_user_api_key_auth.py
+++ b/tests/proxy_unit_tests/test_user_api_key_auth.py
@@ -1044,6 +1044,18 @@ async def test_jwt_non_admin_team_route_access(monkeypatch):
         litellm.proxy.proxy_server, "general_settings", {"enable_jwt_auth": True}
     )
 
+    # Initialize jwt_handler with a default LiteLLM_JWTAuth so that the
+    # virtual_key_claim_field check in user_api_key_auth doesn't fail with
+    # "JWTHandler has no attribute 'litellm_jwtauth'"
+    from litellm.proxy._types import LiteLLM_JWTAuth
+    from litellm.caching.dual_cache import DualCache
+
+    litellm.proxy.proxy_server.jwt_handler.update_environment(
+        prisma_client=None,
+        user_api_key_cache=DualCache(),
+        litellm_jwtauth=LiteLLM_JWTAuth(),
+    )
+
     # Mock enterprise license check and JWTAuthManager.auth_builder
     # License check must be mocked to avoid environment variable pollution
     # in parallel test execution