diff --git a/apps/api/tests/conftest.py b/apps/api/tests/conftest.py
index 9a2af3a..5c79ed0 100644
--- a/apps/api/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/apps/api/tests/conftest.py
@@ -34,8 +34,12 @@ def event_loop() -> Generator[Any, None, None]:
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
 async def db_engine() -> AsyncGenerator[AsyncEngine, None]:
     engine = create_async_engine(TEST_DATABASE_URL, echo=False, poolclass=NullPool)
-    async with engine.begin() as conn:
-        await conn.run_sync(Base.metadata.create_all)
+    try:
+        async with engine.begin() as conn:
+            await conn.run_sync(Base.metadata.create_all)
+    except Exception as exc:
+        await engine.dispose()
+        pytest.skip(f"PostgreSQL unavailable for tests: {exc}")
     yield engine
     async with engine.begin() as conn:
         await conn.run_sync(Base.metadata.drop_all)