diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 61cdba5e..c9dd276c 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -59,6 +59,15 @@ pytest tests/ --cov=src/fenrirscreenreader --cov-report=html
 can run multiple foreground X terminal instances. Ask user to run tests that
 need real Fenrir instances or root access.
 
+### Packaging Test Layouts
+
+- Debian `pybuild` runs copied tests from a nested `.pybuild/.../build` tree
+  and may omit top-level source directories such as `config/`.
+- Tests that inspect source resources must locate them by walking upward from
+  the resolved test path; do not assume a fixed `Path(__file__).parents[N]`.
+- Packaging-sensitive test changes should be checked from both the source tree
+  and a representative nested build directory under `/tmp`.
+
 ## Creating Commands
 
 Use `commands/command_template.py` as base. Required methods:
diff --git a/src/fenrirscreenreader/fenrirVersion.py b/src/fenrirscreenreader/fenrirVersion.py
index 7db4e2ec..d562216c 100644
--- a/src/fenrirscreenreader/fenrirVersion.py
+++ b/src/fenrirscreenreader/fenrirVersion.py
@@ -4,5 +4,5 @@
 # Fenrir TTY screen reader
 # By Chrys, Storm Dragon, and contributors.
 
-version = "2026.08.21"
+version = "2026.09.12"
 code_name = "testing"
diff --git a/tests/unit/config_test_utils.py b/tests/unit/config_test_utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ef075db9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/config_test_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+from configparser import ConfigParser
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def load_source_settings():
+    """Load settings.conf from a checkout or a nested package build tree."""
+    for parent in Path(__file__).resolve().parents:
+        settings_path = parent / "config/settings/settings.conf"
+        if settings_path.is_file():
+            config = ConfigParser(interpolation=None)
+            config.read(settings_path)
+            return config
+
+    raise FileNotFoundError(
+        "Could not find config/settings/settings.conf above the test directory"
+    )
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_generic_sound_driver.py b/tests/unit/test_generic_sound_driver.py
index 040e476d..b14e0fbc 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_generic_sound_driver.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_generic_sound_driver.py
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-from configparser import ConfigParser
-from pathlib import Path
 from unittest.mock import Mock
 
 import pytest
@@ -7,6 +5,8 @@ import pytest
 from fenrirscreenreader.core.settingsData import settings_data
 from fenrirscreenreader.soundDriver import genericDriver
 
+from .config_test_utils import load_source_settings
+
 
 class SettingsManager:
     def __init__(self, settings):
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ def _sound_driver(settings):
 
 
 def _configured_sound_settings():
-    config = ConfigParser(interpolation=None)
-    config.read(Path(__file__).parents[2] / "config/settings/settings.conf")
+    config = load_source_settings()
     return {
         "generic_play_file_command": config.get(
             "sound", "generic_play_file_command"
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_generic_speech_driver.py b/tests/unit/test_generic_speech_driver.py
index 315212ad..92ad9072 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_generic_speech_driver.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_generic_speech_driver.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
-from configparser import ConfigParser
-from pathlib import Path
-
 import pytest
 
 from fenrirscreenreader.core.settingsData import settings_data
 from fenrirscreenreader.speechDriver import genericDriver
 
+from .config_test_utils import load_source_settings
+
 
 def test_build_speech_command_replaces_snake_case_placeholders():
     speech_driver = genericDriver.driver()
@@ -43,8 +42,7 @@ def test_build_speech_command_replaces_snake_case_placeholders():
 
 
 def _configured_speech_command():
-    config = ConfigParser(interpolation=None)
-    config.read(Path(__file__).parents[2] / "config/settings/settings.conf")
+    config = load_source_settings()
     return config.get("speech", "generic_speech_command")