diff --git a/src/mountainash_settings/__version__.py b/src/mountainash_settings/__version__.py
index c4c67b1..861a6a3 100644
--- a/src/mountainash_settings/__version__.py
+++ b/src/mountainash_settings/__version__.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__="26.4.1"
\ No newline at end of file
+__version__="26.4.2"
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/mountainash_settings/profiles/invariants.py b/src/mountainash_settings/profiles/invariants.py
index e8c7c8f..317a490 100644
--- a/src/mountainash_settings/profiles/invariants.py
+++ b/src/mountainash_settings/profiles/invariants.py
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@
 
 import typing as t
 
-import pytest
-
 from mountainash_settings.auth.base import AuthSpec
 
 from .registry import Registry
@@ -31,6 +29,9 @@ def descriptor_invariants_for(registry: Registry) -> type:
     The returned class is named ``TestDescriptorInvariants_<registry_name>``.
     """
 
+    # Lazy import: keeps ``mountainash_settings`` importable in non-test envs.
+    import pytest
+
     entries = list(registry.descriptors.items())
     ids = list(registry.descriptors.keys()) or [""]