diff --git a/tests/test_hooks_cli.py b/tests/test_hooks_cli.py
index 234bef2bce..8062c6a75a 100644
--- a/tests/test_hooks_cli.py
+++ b/tests/test_hooks_cli.py
@@ -31,6 +31,39 @@
 )
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _isolated_existing_palace_root(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
+    """Give every test an isolated, *existing* PALACE_ROOT/STATE_DIR.
+
+    Regression for #1510: nine save / log / precompact tests assumed
+    ``~/.mempalace`` existed and only passed in the full suite because an
+    earlier test file (``test_cli.py``) created it as a side effect, so
+    the ``_palace_root_exists()`` kill-switch was satisfied. Run in
+    isolation they short-circuited and failed.
+
+    Defaulting every test to a per-test palace root that exists makes
+    them robust on their own and protects future tests from the same
+    trap. ``_MINE_PID_DIR`` is patched too: it is derived from
+    ``STATE_DIR`` *at module import* (hooks_cli.py:277), so patching
+    ``STATE_DIR`` alone would leave mine-spawning tests writing PID files
+    under the import-time location instead of the per-test root. The
+    state dir is created so the docstring's "existing" promise holds.
+
+    Tests that exercise the absent-root kill-switch path call
+    ``_redirect_palace_root`` (or set their own PALACE_ROOT) *after* this
+    fixture; ``monkeypatch``'s last-write-wins means they keep their
+    absent/file root and teardown still restores the real module value.
+    """
+    root = tmp_path / ".mempalace"
+    state_dir = root / "hook_state"
+    state_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hooks_cli_mod, "PALACE_ROOT", root)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hooks_cli_mod, "STATE_DIR", state_dir)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hooks_cli_mod, "_MINE_PID_DIR", state_dir / "mine_pids")
+    monkeypatch.setattr(hooks_cli_mod, "_state_dir_initialized", False)
+    return root
+
+
 # --- _mempalace_python ---