diff --git a/src/sound.rs b/src/sound.rs
index a156349b..12b127bb 100644
--- a/src/sound.rs
+++ b/src/sound.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ use std::process::{Command, Output};
 
 use tracing::warn;
 
+const DISABLE_SOUND_ENV: &str = "HERDR_DISABLE_SOUND";
+
 static SOUND_DONE: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../assets/sounds/done.mp3");
 static SOUND_REQUEST: &[u8] = include_bytes!("../assets/sounds/request.mp3");
 
@@ -24,6 +26,10 @@ pub enum Sound {
 /// Play a notification sound in a background thread.
 /// Silently does nothing if no audio player is available.
 pub fn play(sound: Sound, config: &crate::config::SoundConfig) {
+    if sound_playback_disabled_by_env() {
+        return;
+    }
+
     let custom_path = config.path_for(sound);
     std::thread::spawn(move || {
         if let Some(path) = custom_path {
@@ -46,6 +52,10 @@ pub fn play(sound: Sound, config: &crate::config::SoundConfig) {
     });
 }
 
+fn sound_playback_disabled_by_env() -> bool {
+    std::env::var_os(DISABLE_SOUND_ENV).is_some() || std::env::var_os("NEXTEST").is_some()
+}
+
 fn play_file(path: &Path) -> Result<(), String> {
     match run_player(path) {
         Ok(output) if output.status.success() => Ok(()),
diff --git a/tests/client_mode.rs b/tests/client_mode.rs
index d5a798ec..8aea0dda 100644
--- a/tests/client_mode.rs
+++ b/tests/client_mode.rs
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ fn spawn_client_process(
 
     let mut cmd = CommandBuilder::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_herdr"));
     cmd.arg("client");
+    cmd.env("HERDR_DISABLE_SOUND", "1");
     cmd.env("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", config_home);
     cmd.env("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR", runtime_dir);
     cmd.env("HERDR_SOCKET_PATH", api_socket_path);
@@ -556,6 +557,7 @@ fn server_unreachable_shows_clear_error() {
 
     let output = std::process::Command::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_herdr"))
         .arg("client")
+        .env("HERDR_DISABLE_SOUND", "1")
         .env("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", &config_home)
         .env("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR", &runtime_dir)
         .env("HERDR_SOCKET_PATH", &api_socket)
diff --git a/tests/cross_area.rs b/tests/cross_area.rs
index 494b694b..3975d402 100644
--- a/tests/cross_area.rs
+++ b/tests/cross_area.rs
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ fn spawn_client_process(
 
     let mut cmd = CommandBuilder::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_herdr"));
     cmd.arg("client");
+    cmd.env("HERDR_DISABLE_SOUND", "1");
     cmd.env("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", config_home);
     cmd.env("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR", runtime_dir);
     cmd.env("HERDR_SOCKET_PATH", api_socket_path);
diff --git a/tests/multi_client.rs b/tests/multi_client.rs
index 582fecf7..b74e527c 100644
--- a/tests/multi_client.rs
+++ b/tests/multi_client.rs
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ fn spawn_client_process(
 
     let mut cmd = CommandBuilder::new(env!("CARGO_BIN_EXE_herdr"));
     cmd.arg("client");
+    cmd.env("HERDR_DISABLE_SOUND", "1");
     cmd.env("XDG_CONFIG_HOME", config_home);
     cmd.env("XDG_RUNTIME_DIR", runtime_dir);
     cmd.env("HERDR_SOCKET_PATH", api_socket_path);