diff --git a/.github/workflows/pr-test-rust.yml b/.github/workflows/pr-test-rust.yml
index 2170fe1b0..b944bc516 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pr-test-rust.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pr-test-rust.yml
@@ -166,10 +166,10 @@ jobs:
           source "$HOME/.cargo/env"
           export RUSTC_WRAPPER=sccache
           cd sgl-router
-          python3 -m venv .venv
           python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip maturin
-          maturin develop --release --profile ci --features vendored-openssl
-
+          pip uninstall -y sglang-router
+          maturin build --release --profile ci --features vendored-openssl
+          pip install target/wheels/*.whl
 
       - name: Run Python unit tests
         run: |
@@ -266,7 +266,9 @@ jobs:
           cd sgl-router
           python3 -m venv .venv
           python3 -m pip install --upgrade pip maturin
-          maturin develop --release --profile ci --features vendored-openssl
+          pip uninstall -y sglang-router
+          maturin build --release --profile ci --features vendored-openssl
+          pip install target/wheels/*.whl
 
       - name: Run Python E2E response API tests
         run: |
diff --git a/sgl-router/py_test/conftest.py b/sgl-router/py_test/conftest.py
index 894e12bf5..b3c6dc66a 100644
--- a/sgl-router/py_test/conftest.py
+++ b/sgl-router/py_test/conftest.py
@@ -1,8 +1,15 @@
 import sys
+from importlib.util import find_spec
 from pathlib import Path
 
-# Ensure local sources in py_src are importable ahead of any installed package
+# Only add py_src to path if the wheel is not installed (for local development)
+# This ensures CI tests use the installed wheel which contains the Rust extension
 _ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
 _SRC = _ROOT / "py_src"
-if str(_SRC) not in sys.path:
+
+# Check if sglang_router is already installed with the Rust extension
+_wheel_installed = find_spec("sglang_router.sglang_router_rs") is not None
+
+# Only add py_src if wheel is not installed (development mode)
+if not _wheel_installed and str(_SRC) not in sys.path:
     sys.path.insert(0, str(_SRC))