diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index b2cdb45..8d0a5d9 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ jobs:
         run: dnf install -y gcc make curl
       - name: Install build deps (openSUSE)
         if: matrix.os == 'opensuse'
-        run: zypper install -y gcc make curl gzip tar xz
+        run: zypper install -y gcc make curl gzip tar xz bash
       - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
         with:
           toolchain: ${{ env.RUST_TOOLCHAIN }}
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ jobs:
             setup: "dnf install -y gcc make curl fuse-overlayfs fuse3 crun"
           - os: opensuse
             container: opensuse/tumbleweed:latest
-            setup: "zypper install -y gcc make curl fuse-overlayfs gzip tar xz crun"
+            setup: "zypper install -y gcc make curl fuse-overlayfs gzip tar xz bash crun"
     container: ${{ matrix.container }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
diff --git a/crates/karapace-cli/src/main.rs b/crates/karapace-cli/src/main.rs
index 16f7211..b75c5d7 100644
--- a/crates/karapace-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/karapace-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
             | Commands::Exec { .. }
             | Commands::Rebuild { .. }
     );
-    if needs_runtime {
+    if needs_runtime && std::env::var("KARAPACE_SKIP_PREREQS").as_deref() != Ok("1") {
         let missing = karapace_runtime::check_namespace_prereqs();
         if !missing.is_empty() {
             eprintln!("error: {}", karapace_runtime::format_missing(&missing));
diff --git a/crates/karapace-cli/tests/cli_integration.rs b/crates/karapace-cli/tests/cli_integration.rs
index 4e1c83a..f782a06 100644
--- a/crates/karapace-cli/tests/cli_integration.rs
+++ b/crates/karapace-cli/tests/cli_integration.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@
 use std::process::Command;
 
 fn karapace_bin() -> Command {
-    Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_karapace"))
+    let mut cmd = Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_karapace"));
+    // Skip runtime prerequisite checks — mock backend does not need user namespaces
+    cmd.env("KARAPACE_SKIP_PREREQS", "1");
+    cmd
 }
 
 fn temp_store() -> tempfile::TempDir {