diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index f92a4cf..8f7ae6f 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ import audit  # noqa: E402
 
 audit.AUDIT_DIR = os.path.join(_TMP, "logs", "audit")
 audit.ERROR_DIR = os.path.join(_TMP, "logs", "errors")
+# The request-logging middleware runs under TestClient too; keep its access log
+# out of the repo's logs/ so self-test traffic never pollutes the live monitor.
+audit.ACCESS_DIR = os.path.join(_TMP, "logs", "access")
 
 
 def _years_before(d: datetime.date, years: int) -> datetime.date: