diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
index c926ddb7..ae697ad7 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/auto_play.gd
@@ -277,6 +277,16 @@ func _process(_delta: float) -> void:
 				var btn: Button = _find_button("Start Game")
 				if btn != null:
 					_screenshot("02_game_setup")
+					# Inject AUTO_PLAY_SEED into the setup UI before submitting,
+					# otherwise game_setup.gd._compose_seed() overrides us with the
+					# default 42 via GameState.initialize_game() clobbering game_settings.
+					if _seed_set:
+						var setup_node: Node = _find_node_by_name(
+							get_tree().root, "GameSetup"
+						)
+						if setup_node != null and setup_node.has_method("_set_seed"):
+							setup_node._set_seed(_seed)
+							print("AutoPlay: injected seed=%d into game_setup UI" % _seed)
 					print("AutoPlay: [setup] Start Game (2 players)")
 					btn.pressed.emit()
 					# Force Pangaea so all players share one landmass (no water barriers)