diff --git a/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.IntegrationTests/ScadaBridgeWebApplicationFactory.cs b/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.IntegrationTests/ScadaBridgeWebApplicationFactory.cs
index 9aaada52..5421e283 100644
--- a/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.IntegrationTests/ScadaBridgeWebApplicationFactory.cs
+++ b/tests/ZB.MOM.WW.ScadaBridge.IntegrationTests/ScadaBridgeWebApplicationFactory.cs
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ public class ScadaBridgeWebApplicationFactory : WebApplicationFactory<Program>
         {
             ["DOTNET_ENVIRONMENT"] = "Development",
             ["ScadaBridge__Node__Role"] = "Central",
+            // NodeName is eagerly validated at boot (arch-review 08 round 2 NF4 / plan R2-08 T7):
+            // an empty node name stamps the SourceNode audit column NULL, so the validator now
+            // fails host boot without it. The integration harness must supply one.
+            ["ScadaBridge__Node__NodeName"] = "central-a",
             ["ScadaBridge__Node__NodeHostname"] = "localhost",
             ["ScadaBridge__Node__RemotingPort"] = "8081",
             ["ScadaBridge__Cluster__SeedNodes__0"] = "akka.tcp://scadabridge@localhost:8081",