diff --git a/.github/workflows/tests.yml b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
index 861addb..38772b3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/tests.yml
@@ -25,10 +25,8 @@ jobs:
       - name: Install
         run: |
           python -m pip install --upgrade pip
-          # symfluence is a runtime import of the calibration worker and plugin
-          # registration but is not declared in pyproject (the pure-JAX model runs
-          # without it); install it explicitly so those tests can execute.
-          pip install symfluence
+          # symfluence (needed by the calibration worker + plugin-registration
+          # tests) is declared in the dev extra; the pure-JAX model does not need it.
           pip install -e ".[jax,dev]"
       - name: Run tests
         run: pytest -q
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index cba68ee..38ea509 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 jax = ["jax", "jaxlib"]
-dev = ["pytest>=7.0"]
+dev = ["pytest>=7.0", "symfluence>=0.7.0"]
 
 [project.entry-points."symfluence.plugins"]
 topmodel = "jtopmodel:register"