diff --git a/frontend/e2e/document-management.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/document-management.spec.ts
index 2b78121..95a9cac 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/document-management.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/document-management.spec.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ test.describe('Document Management', () => {
     helpers = new TestHelpers(authenticatedPage);
     await helpers.navigateToPage('/documents');
     // Ensure we have test documents for tests that need them
+    await helpers.ensureTestDocumentsExist();
   });
 
   test('should display document list', async ({ authenticatedPage: page }) => {
diff --git a/frontend/e2e/search.spec.ts b/frontend/e2e/search.spec.ts
index 07bdb3f..5f7ab26 100644
--- a/frontend/e2e/search.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/e2e/search.spec.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@ test.describe('Search Functionality', () => {
   test.beforeEach(async ({ authenticatedPage }) => {
     helpers = new TestHelpers(authenticatedPage);
     await helpers.navigateToPage('/search');
+    // Ensure we have test documents for search functionality
+    await helpers.ensureTestDocumentsExist();
   });
 
   test('should display search interface', async ({ authenticatedPage: page }) => {
diff --git a/frontend/playwright.config.ts b/frontend/playwright.config.ts
index edd11d3..d7c47ba 100644
--- a/frontend/playwright.config.ts
+++ b/frontend/playwright.config.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
   ],
   outputDir: 'test-results/e2e-artifacts',
   use: {
-    baseURL: 'http://localhost:5173',
+    baseURL: process.env.PLAYWRIGHT_BASE_URL || 'http://localhost:5173',
     trace: 'on-first-retry',
     screenshot: 'only-on-failure',
     video: 'retain-on-failure',
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
       use: { ...devices['Desktop Safari'] },
     },
   ],
-  webServer: {
+  webServer: process.env.CI ? undefined : {
     command: 'npm run dev',
     url: 'http://localhost:5173',
     reuseExistingServer: !process.env.CI,