diff --git a/backend/tests/test_submission.py b/backend/tests/test_submission.py
index f2a56ce..71956f5 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_submission.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_submission.py
@@ -196,13 +196,19 @@ def test_submit_file_uses_default_paramiko_factory(monkeypatch):
 
 
 def test_submit_batch_cli_help():
-    """`cyclone submit-batch --help` exits 0 and shows the flags."""
-    import subprocess
-    import sys
-    result = subprocess.run(
-        [sys.executable, "-m", "cyclone.cli", "submit-batch", "--help"],
-        capture_output=True, text=True,
-        cwd=str(Path(__file__).parent.parent),
-    )
-    assert result.returncode == 0
-    assert "--ingest-dir" in result.stdout
+    """`cyclone submit-batch --help` exits 0 and shows the flags.
+
+    Uses ``click.testing.CliRunner`` instead of ``subprocess.run`` for
+    ~10ms vs ~200ms per call. Same assertions — the CliRunner
+    ``result.exit_code`` matches the subprocess returncode, and
+    ``result.output`` is the Click-rendered help text (subprocess's
+    stdout).
+    """
+    from click.testing import CliRunner
+
+    from cyclone.cli import main
+
+    runner = CliRunner()
+    result = runner.invoke(main, ["submit-batch", "--help"])
+    assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+    assert "--ingest-dir" in result.output