diff --git a/.forgejo/workflows/test.yml b/.forgejo/workflows/test.yml
index 4be035b..5c0ed37 100644
--- a/.forgejo/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.forgejo/workflows/test.yml
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: MongoDB log on failure
         if: failure()
         run: docker logs mongo-ci || true
+      - name: Seed test data
+        run: node scripts/seed-all.js && node scripts/seed-tags.js
       - run: npm run build
       - name: Start server
         run: node .output/server/index.mjs > /tmp/server.log 2>&1 &
@@ -121,6 +123,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: MongoDB log on failure
         if: failure()
         run: docker logs mongo-ci || true
+      - name: Seed test data
+        run: node scripts/seed-all.js && node scripts/seed-tags.js
       - run: npm run build
       - name: Start server
         run: node .output/server/index.mjs > /tmp/server.log 2>&1 &
diff --git a/e2e/wave-slack-onboarding.spec.js b/e2e/wave-slack-onboarding.spec.js
index 4becf45..e68a3b3 100644
--- a/e2e/wave-slack-onboarding.spec.js
+++ b/e2e/wave-slack-onboarding.spec.js
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ test.describe('Member dashboard — Slack-coming note (§7)', () => {
   test('hides note for pending_payment member (7.3)', async ({ browser }) => {
     const context = await browser.newContext()
     const page = await context.newPage()
-    await loginAsMember(page, 'jennie@jenniefaber.com')
+    await loginAsMember(page, 'pending-payment-test@example.test')
     await page.goto('/member/dashboard')
-    await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /Welcome.*Jennifer/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 })
+    await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: /Welcome.*Pending Payment Tester/i })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 15000 })
     await expect(page.getByText(SLACK_NOTE_RE)).toHaveCount(0)
     await context.close()
   })
diff --git a/scripts/seed-members.js b/scripts/seed-members.js
index 52f87a9..3611f12 100644
--- a/scripts/seed-members.js
+++ b/scripts/seed-members.js
@@ -274,6 +274,18 @@ const sampleMembers = [
     createdAt: new Date('2025-06-01'),
     lastLogin: new Date('2026-04-04'),
   },
+  {
+    email: 'pending-payment-test@example.test',
+    name: 'Pending Payment Tester',
+    circle: 'community',
+    contributionAmount: 5,
+    status: 'pending_payment',
+    slackInvited: false,
+    craftTags: [],
+    board: {},
+    createdAt: new Date('2026-04-25'),
+    lastLogin: new Date('2026-04-29'),
+  },
 ]
 
 const TEST_ADMIN_BOARD = {
diff --git a/server/api/admin/board-channels.post.js b/server/api/admin/board-channels.post.js
index eea3efd..b49d81f 100644
--- a/server/api/admin/board-channels.post.js
+++ b/server/api/admin/board-channels.post.js
@@ -24,22 +24,27 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   let channelName = body.name
 
   if (!slackChannelId) {
-    const slack = getSlackAdminService()
-    if (!slack) {
-      throw createError({
-        statusCode: 500,
-        statusMessage: 'Slack integration not configured',
-      })
-    }
-    try {
-      const created = await slack.createChannel(body.name)
-      slackChannelId = created.id
-      channelName = created.name
-    } catch (err) {
-      throw createError({
-        statusCode: 502,
-        statusMessage: `Failed to create Slack channel: ${err.data?.error || err.message}`,
-      })
+    if (process.env.ALLOW_DEV_TEST_ENDPOINTS === 'true') {
+      slackChannelId = `dev-stub-${Date.now()}`
+      console.log('[slack] DEV MODE — skipping createChannel', { name: body.name, slackChannelId })
+    } else {
+      const slack = getSlackAdminService()
+      if (!slack) {
+        throw createError({
+          statusCode: 500,
+          statusMessage: 'Slack integration not configured',
+        })
+      }
+      try {
+        const created = await slack.createChannel(body.name)
+        slackChannelId = created.id
+        channelName = created.name
+      } catch (err) {
+        throw createError({
+          statusCode: 502,
+          statusMessage: `Failed to create Slack channel: ${err.data?.error || err.message}`,
+        })
+      }
     }
   }