diff --git a/client/tests/test_atlas_view_api.gd b/client/tests/test_atlas_view_api.gd
index 6236d889c..f4c30d784 100644
--- a/client/tests/test_atlas_view_api.gd
+++ b/client/tests/test_atlas_view_api.gd
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ extends GdUnitTestSuite
 
 func test_set_view_applies_zoom_and_offset() -> void:
 	var v: AtlasViewer = auto_free(AtlasViewer.new())
+	add_child(v)  # _canvas resolves in _ready(); a bare .new() crashes _apply_transform
 	v.set_view(3.0, Vector2(100.0, -40.0))
 	assert_that(v.get_view_zoom()).is_equal_approx(3.0, 0.001)
 	assert_that(v.get_view_offset()).is_equal(Vector2(100.0, -40.0))
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ func test_set_view_applies_zoom_and_offset() -> void:
 ## a range the rest of the viewer doesn't expect.
 func test_set_view_clamps_zoom_to_min_max() -> void:
 	var v: AtlasViewer = auto_free(AtlasViewer.new())
+	add_child(v)
 
 	v.set_view(0.01, Vector2.ZERO)
 	assert_that(v.get_view_zoom()).is_equal_approx(AtlasViewer.MIN_ZOOM, 0.001)
@@ -36,6 +38,7 @@ func test_set_view_clamps_zoom_to_min_max() -> void:
 ## _canvas.scale/_canvas.position instead of the cached _view_zoom/_view_offset).
 func test_view_getters_round_trip_after_set_view() -> void:
 	var v: AtlasViewer = auto_free(AtlasViewer.new())
+	add_child(v)
 
 	var cases: Array = [
 		[1.0, Vector2.ZERO],