diff --git a/docs/development.md b/docs/development.md
index 71ca4d930..f724b551f 100644
--- a/docs/development.md
+++ b/docs/development.md
@@ -152,6 +152,19 @@ $ ng build --configuration production
     configuration. This is not ideal. But for now, make sure no settings
     except for DEBUG are overridden when testing.
 
+-   Testing under docker is possible (but generally unsupported) if a
+    bare-metal environment cannot be setup. To run tests under docker, use
+    this command:
+
+    ```bash
+    # paperless-ngx/
+
+    $ docker run --rm -i -t \
+      -v $PWD:/usr/src/paperless \
+      --entrypoint=uv paperlessngx/paperless-ngx:latest \
+      run pytest
+    ```
+
 !!! note
 
       The line length rule E501 is generally useful for getting multiple
diff --git a/src/documents/management/commands/document_consumer.py b/src/documents/management/commands/document_consumer.py
index 97027e02d..a541f66c3 100644
--- a/src/documents/management/commands/document_consumer.py
+++ b/src/documents/management/commands/document_consumer.py
@@ -250,10 +250,22 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         if options["oneshot"]:
             return
 
+        inotify = None
         if settings.CONSUMER_POLLING == 0 and INotify:
-            self.handle_inotify(directory, recursive, is_testing=options["testing"])
+            try:
+                inotify = INotify()
+            except OSError:
+                logger.exception("inotify failed to instantiate")
+
+        if inotify:
+            self.handle_inotify(
+                inotify,
+                directory,
+                recursive,
+                is_testing=options["testing"],
+            )
         else:
-            if INotify is None and settings.CONSUMER_POLLING == 0:  # pragma: no cover
+            if inotify is None and settings.CONSUMER_POLLING == 0:  # pragma: no cover
                 logger.warning("Using polling as INotify import failed")
             self.handle_polling(directory, recursive, is_testing=options["testing"])
 
@@ -286,7 +298,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 observer.stop()
             observer.join()
 
-    def handle_inotify(self, directory, recursive, *, is_testing: bool):
+    def handle_inotify(self, inotify, directory, recursive, *, is_testing: bool):
         logger.info(f"Using inotify to watch directory for changes: {directory}")
 
         timeout_ms = None
@@ -294,7 +306,6 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
             timeout_ms = self.testing_timeout_ms
             logger.debug(f"Configuring timeout to {timeout_ms}ms")
 
-        inotify = INotify()
         inotify_flags = flags.CLOSE_WRITE | flags.MOVED_TO | flags.MODIFY
         if recursive:
             inotify.add_watch_recursive(directory, inotify_flags)
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_api_status.py b/src/documents/tests/test_api_status.py
index 9b7bf37ad..f80512a96 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_api_status.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_api_status.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class TestSystemStatus(APITestCase):
         self.assertEqual(response.status_code, status.HTTP_200_OK)
         self.assertEqual(response.data["pngx_version"], version.__full_version_str__)
         self.assertIsNotNone(response.data["server_os"])
-        self.assertEqual(response.data["install_type"], "bare-metal")
+        self.assertIn(response.data["install_type"], ["bare-metal", "docker"])
         self.assertIsNotNone(response.data["storage"]["total"])
         self.assertIsNotNone(response.data["storage"]["available"])
         self.assertEqual(response.data["database"]["type"], "sqlite")
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_file_handling.py b/src/documents/tests/test_file_handling.py
index c0070aa81..00df33a5b 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_file_handling.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_file_handling.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from documents.tasks import empty_trash
 from documents.tests.factories import DocumentFactory
 from documents.tests.utils import DirectoriesMixin
 from documents.tests.utils import FileSystemAssertsMixin
+from documents.tests.utils import skip_if_root
 
 
 class TestFileHandling(DirectoriesMixin, FileSystemAssertsMixin, TestCase):
@@ -89,6 +90,7 @@ class TestFileHandling(DirectoriesMixin, FileSystemAssertsMixin, TestCase):
             settings.ORIGINALS_DIR / "test" / "test.pdf.gpg",
         )
 
+    @skip_if_root
     @override_settings(FILENAME_FORMAT="{correspondent}/{correspondent}")
     def test_file_renaming_missing_permissions(self):
         document = Document()
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_management_consumer.py b/src/documents/tests/test_management_consumer.py
index 38b9eadda..447de4926 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_management_consumer.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_management_consumer.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from threading import Thread
 from time import sleep
 from unittest import mock
 
+import pytest
 from django.conf import settings
 from django.core.management import CommandError
 from django.core.management import call_command
@@ -18,6 +19,14 @@ from documents.models import Tag
 from documents.tests.utils import DirectoriesMixin
 from documents.tests.utils import DocumentConsumeDelayMixin
 
+try:
+    from inotifyrecursive import INotify
+
+    INotify()
+    SKIP_INOTIFY_TESTS = False
+except (ImportError, OSError):
+    SKIP_INOTIFY_TESTS = True
+
 
 class ConsumerThread(Thread):
     def __init__(self):
@@ -108,10 +117,10 @@ class ConsumerThreadMixin(DocumentConsumeDelayMixin):
             print("file completed.")  # noqa: T201
 
 
-@override_settings(
-    CONSUMER_INOTIFY_DELAY=0.01,
-)
-class TestConsumer(DirectoriesMixin, ConsumerThreadMixin, TransactionTestCase):
+class _TestConsumerBase(DirectoriesMixin, ConsumerThreadMixin):
+    # Note: adding TransactionTestCase as a base makes pytest discover this
+    # class. Only add it to the actual test classes.
+
     def test_consume_file(self):
         self.t_start()
 
@@ -365,6 +374,14 @@ class TestConsumer(DirectoriesMixin, ConsumerThreadMixin, TransactionTestCase):
         self.consume_file_mock.assert_not_called()
 
 
+@override_settings(
+    CONSUMER_INOTIFY_DELAY=0.01,
+)
+@pytest.mark.skipif(SKIP_INOTIFY_TESTS, reason="no inotify")
+class TestConsumer(_TestConsumerBase, TransactionTestCase):
+    pass
+
+
 @override_settings(
     CONSUMER_POLLING=1,
     # please leave the delay here and down below
@@ -372,13 +389,14 @@ class TestConsumer(DirectoriesMixin, ConsumerThreadMixin, TransactionTestCase):
     CONSUMER_POLLING_DELAY=3,
     CONSUMER_POLLING_RETRY_COUNT=20,
 )
-class TestConsumerPolling(TestConsumer):
+class TestConsumerPolling(_TestConsumerBase, TransactionTestCase):
     # just do all the tests with polling
     pass
 
 
 @override_settings(CONSUMER_INOTIFY_DELAY=0.01, CONSUMER_RECURSIVE=True)
-class TestConsumerRecursive(TestConsumer):
+@pytest.mark.skipif(SKIP_INOTIFY_TESTS, reason="no inotify")
+class TestConsumerRecursive(_TestConsumerBase, TransactionTestCase):
     # just do all the tests with recursive
     pass
 
@@ -389,14 +407,14 @@ class TestConsumerRecursive(TestConsumer):
     CONSUMER_POLLING_DELAY=3,
     CONSUMER_POLLING_RETRY_COUNT=20,
 )
-class TestConsumerRecursivePolling(TestConsumer):
+class TestConsumerRecursivePolling(_TestConsumerBase, TransactionTestCase):
     # just do all the tests with polling and recursive
     pass
 
 
+@override_settings(CONSUMER_RECURSIVE=True, CONSUMER_SUBDIRS_AS_TAGS=True)
 class TestConsumerTags(DirectoriesMixin, ConsumerThreadMixin, TransactionTestCase):
-    @override_settings(CONSUMER_RECURSIVE=True, CONSUMER_SUBDIRS_AS_TAGS=True)
-    def test_consume_file_with_path_tags(self):
+    def _test_consume_file_with_path_tags(self):
         tag_names = ("existingTag", "Space Tag")
         # Create a Tag prior to consuming a file using it in path
         tag_ids = [
@@ -429,10 +447,14 @@ class TestConsumerTags(DirectoriesMixin, ConsumerThreadMixin, TransactionTestCas
         # their order.
         self.assertCountEqual(overrides.tag_ids, tag_ids)
 
+    @pytest.mark.skipif(SKIP_INOTIFY_TESTS, reason="no inotify")
+    def test_consume_file_with_path_tags(self):
+        self._test_consume_file_with_path_tags()
+
     @override_settings(
         CONSUMER_POLLING=1,
         CONSUMER_POLLING_DELAY=3,
         CONSUMER_POLLING_RETRY_COUNT=20,
     )
     def test_consume_file_with_path_tags_polling(self):
-        self.test_consume_file_with_path_tags()
+        self._test_consume_file_with_path_tags()
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_management_exporter.py b/src/documents/tests/test_management_exporter.py
index a67e5e8c5..6d9ffabd0 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_management_exporter.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_management_exporter.py
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ from documents.tests.utils import DirectoriesMixin
 from documents.tests.utils import FileSystemAssertsMixin
 from documents.tests.utils import SampleDirMixin
 from documents.tests.utils import paperless_environment
+from documents.tests.utils import skip_if_root
 from paperless_mail.models import MailAccount
 
 
@@ -571,7 +572,7 @@ class TestExportImport(
         with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as e:
             call_command(*args)
 
-            self.assertEqual("That path isn't a directory", str(e))
+        self.assertEqual("That path doesn't exist", str(e.exception))
 
     def test_export_target_exists_but_is_file(self):
         """
@@ -589,8 +590,9 @@ class TestExportImport(
             with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as e:
                 call_command(*args)
 
-                self.assertEqual("That path isn't a directory", str(e))
+            self.assertEqual("That path isn't a directory", str(e.exception))
 
+    @skip_if_root
     def test_export_target_not_writable(self):
         """
         GIVEN:
@@ -608,7 +610,10 @@ class TestExportImport(
             with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as e:
                 call_command(*args)
 
-                self.assertEqual("That path doesn't appear to be writable", str(e))
+            self.assertEqual(
+                "That path doesn't appear to be writable",
+                str(e.exception),
+            )
 
     def test_no_archive(self):
         """
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_management_fuzzy.py b/src/documents/tests/test_management_fuzzy.py
index 453a86082..2a4f28025 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_management_fuzzy.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_management_fuzzy.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class TestFuzzyMatchCommand(TestCase):
         """
         with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as e:
             self.call_command("--ratio", "-1")
-            self.assertIn("The ratio must be between 0 and 100", str(e))
+        self.assertIn("The ratio must be between 0 and 100", str(e.exception))
 
     def test_invalid_ratio_upper_limit(self):
         """
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class TestFuzzyMatchCommand(TestCase):
         """
         with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as e:
             self.call_command("--ratio", "101")
-            self.assertIn("The ratio must be between 0 and 100", str(e))
+        self.assertIn("The ratio must be between 0 and 100", str(e.exception))
 
     def test_invalid_process_count(self):
         """
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ class TestFuzzyMatchCommand(TestCase):
         """
         with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as e:
             self.call_command("--processes", "0")
-            self.assertIn("There must be at least 1 process", str(e))
+        self.assertIn("There must be at least 1 process", str(e.exception))
 
     def test_no_matches(self):
         """
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_management_importer.py b/src/documents/tests/test_management_importer.py
index e700ecdc9..2ae1834a5 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_management_importer.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_management_importer.py
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from documents.settings import EXPORTER_FILE_NAME
 from documents.tests.utils import DirectoriesMixin
 from documents.tests.utils import FileSystemAssertsMixin
 from documents.tests.utils import SampleDirMixin
+from documents.tests.utils import skip_if_root
 
 
 class TestCommandImport(
@@ -40,10 +41,10 @@ class TestCommandImport(
                 "--no-progress-bar",
                 str(self.dirs.scratch_dir),
             )
-            self.assertIn(
-                "That directory doesn't appear to contain a manifest.json file.",
-                str(e),
-            )
+        self.assertIn(
+            "That directory doesn't appear to contain a manifest.json file.",
+            str(e.exception),
+        )
 
     def test_check_manifest_malformed(self):
         """
@@ -66,10 +67,10 @@ class TestCommandImport(
                 "--no-progress-bar",
                 str(self.dirs.scratch_dir),
             )
-            self.assertIn(
-                "The manifest file contains a record which does not refer to an actual document file.",
-                str(e),
-            )
+        self.assertIn(
+            "The manifest file contains a record which does not refer to an actual document file.",
+            str(e.exception),
+        )
 
     def test_check_manifest_file_not_found(self):
         """
@@ -95,8 +96,9 @@ class TestCommandImport(
                 "--no-progress-bar",
                 str(self.dirs.scratch_dir),
             )
-            self.assertIn('The manifest file refers to "noexist.pdf"', str(e))
+        self.assertIn('The manifest file refers to "noexist.pdf"', str(e.exception))
 
+    @skip_if_root
     def test_import_permission_error(self):
         """
         GIVEN:
@@ -129,14 +131,14 @@ class TestCommandImport(
             cmd.data_only = False
             with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as cm:
                 cmd.check_manifest_validity()
-                self.assertInt("Failed to read from original file", str(cm.exception))
+            self.assertIn("Failed to read from original file", str(cm.exception))
 
             original_path.chmod(0o444)
             archive_path.chmod(0o222)
 
             with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as cm:
                 cmd.check_manifest_validity()
-                self.assertInt("Failed to read from archive file", str(cm.exception))
+            self.assertIn("Failed to read from archive file", str(cm.exception))
 
     def test_import_source_not_existing(self):
         """
@@ -149,8 +151,9 @@ class TestCommandImport(
         """
         with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as cm:
             call_command("document_importer", Path("/tmp/notapath"))
-            self.assertInt("That path doesn't exist", str(cm.exception))
+        self.assertIn("That path doesn't exist", str(cm.exception))
 
+    @skip_if_root
     def test_import_source_not_readable(self):
         """
         GIVEN:
@@ -165,10 +168,10 @@ class TestCommandImport(
             path.chmod(0o222)
             with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as cm:
                 call_command("document_importer", path)
-                self.assertInt(
-                    "That path doesn't appear to be readable",
-                    str(cm.exception),
-                )
+            self.assertIn(
+                "That path doesn't appear to be readable",
+                str(cm.exception),
+            )
 
     def test_import_source_does_not_exist(self):
         """
@@ -185,8 +188,7 @@ class TestCommandImport(
 
         with self.assertRaises(CommandError) as e:
             call_command("document_importer", "--no-progress-bar", str(path))
-
-            self.assertIn("That path doesn't exist", str(e))
+        self.assertIn("That path doesn't exist", str(e.exception))
 
     def test_import_files_exist(self):
         """
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/test_sanity_check.py b/src/documents/tests/test_sanity_check.py
index fff5f2528..dc9c881f8 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/test_sanity_check.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/test_sanity_check.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from django.test import override_settings
 from documents.models import Document
 from documents.sanity_checker import check_sanity
 from documents.tests.utils import DirectoriesMixin
+from documents.tests.utils import skip_if_root
 
 
 class TestSanityCheck(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@ class TestSanityCheck(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
         Path(doc.thumbnail_path).unlink()
         self.assertSanityError(doc, "Thumbnail of document does not exist")
 
+    @skip_if_root
     def test_thumbnail_no_access(self):
         doc = self.make_test_data()
         Path(doc.thumbnail_path).chmod(0o000)
@@ -106,6 +108,7 @@ class TestSanityCheck(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
         Path(doc.source_path).unlink()
         self.assertSanityError(doc, "Original of document does not exist.")
 
+    @skip_if_root
     def test_original_no_access(self):
         doc = self.make_test_data()
         Path(doc.source_path).chmod(0o000)
@@ -123,6 +126,7 @@ class TestSanityCheck(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
         Path(doc.archive_path).unlink()
         self.assertSanityError(doc, "Archived version of document does not exist.")
 
+    @skip_if_root
     def test_archive_no_access(self):
         doc = self.make_test_data()
         Path(doc.archive_path).chmod(0o000)
diff --git a/src/documents/tests/utils.py b/src/documents/tests/utils.py
index 88dddc557..9ae06eac7 100644
--- a/src/documents/tests/utils.py
+++ b/src/documents/tests/utils.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import os
 import shutil
 import tempfile
 import time
@@ -28,6 +29,8 @@ from documents.data_models import DocumentSource
 from documents.parsers import ParseError
 from documents.plugins.helpers import ProgressStatusOptions
 
+skip_if_root = pytest.mark.skipif(os.getuid() == 0, reason="running as root")
+
 
 def setup_directories():
     dirs = namedtuple("Dirs", ())
diff --git a/src/paperless/tests/test_checks.py b/src/paperless/tests/test_checks.py
index 781956ff6..f6a404938 100644
--- a/src/paperless/tests/test_checks.py
+++ b/src/paperless/tests/test_checks.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ from django.test import override_settings
 
 from documents.tests.utils import DirectoriesMixin
 from documents.tests.utils import FileSystemAssertsMixin
+from documents.tests.utils import skip_if_root
 from paperless.checks import audit_log_check
 from paperless.checks import binaries_check
 from paperless.checks import debug_mode_check
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ class TestChecks(DirectoriesMixin, TestCase):
         for msg in msgs:
             self.assertTrue(msg.msg.endswith("is set but doesn't exist."))
 
+    @skip_if_root
     def test_paths_check_no_access(self):
         Path(self.dirs.data_dir).chmod(0o000)
         Path(self.dirs.media_dir).chmod(0o000)