diff --git a/scripts/test/test-env-virtual.sh b/scripts/test/test-env-virtual.sh
index 2bf5720..819cdde 100755
--- a/scripts/test/test-env-virtual.sh
+++ b/scripts/test/test-env-virtual.sh
@@ -1,32 +1,49 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
-IMAGE="pkgmgr-$PKGMGR_DISTRO"
+IMAGE="pkgmgr-${PKGMGR_DISTRO}"
 
 echo
 echo "------------------------------------------------------------"
-echo ">>> Testing VENV: $IMAGE"
+echo ">>> Testing VENV: ${IMAGE}"
 echo "------------------------------------------------------------"
+
 echo "[test-env-virtual] Inspect image metadata:"
-docker image inspect "$IMAGE" | sed -n '1,40p'
-
-echo "[test-env-virtual] Running: docker run --rm --entrypoint pkgmgr $IMAGE --help"
+docker image inspect "${IMAGE}" | sed -n '1,40p'
 echo
 
-# Run the command and capture the output
+# ------------------------------------------------------------
+# Run VENV-based pkgmgr test inside container
+# ------------------------------------------------------------
 if OUTPUT=$(docker run --rm \
-        -e REINSTALL_PKGMGR=1 \
-        -v "pkgmgr_nix_store_${PKGMGR_DISTRO}:/nix" \
-        -v "$(pwd):/src" \
-        -v "pkgmgr_nix_cache_${PKGMGR_DISTRO}:/root/.cache/nix" \
-        "$IMAGE" 2>&1); then
+    -e REINSTALL_PKGMGR=1 \
+    -v "$(pwd):/src" \
+    -w /src \
+    "${IMAGE}" \
+    bash -lc '
+        set -euo pipefail
+
+        echo "[test-env-virtual] Installing pkgmgr (distro package)..."
+        make install
+
+        echo "[test-env-virtual] Setting up Python venv..."
+        make setup-venv
+
+        echo "[test-env-virtual] Activating venv..."
+        . "$HOME/.venvs/pkgmgr/bin/activate"
+
+        echo "[test-env-virtual] Using pkgmgr from:"
+        command -v pkgmgr
+        pkgmgr --help
+    ' 2>&1); then
+
     echo "$OUTPUT"
     echo
-    echo "[test-env-virtual] SUCCESS: $IMAGE responded to 'pkgmgr --help'"
+    echo "[test-env-virtual] SUCCESS: venv-based pkgmgr works in ${IMAGE}"
 
 else
     echo "$OUTPUT"
     echo
-    echo "[test-env-virtual] ERROR: $IMAGE failed to run 'pkgmgr --help'"
+    echo "[test-env-virtual] ERROR: venv-based pkgmgr failed in ${IMAGE}"
     exit 1
-fi
\ No newline at end of file
+fi