diff --git a/scripts/self_healing.py b/scripts/self_healing.py
index 8fa65f66..b33cd9bd 100644
--- a/scripts/self_healing.py
+++ b/scripts/self_healing.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import subprocess
 import argparse
 import requests
 import datetime
+from typing import Sequence
 
 # --- CONFIGURATION ---
 FLEET = {
@@ -192,10 +193,10 @@ EXAMPLES:
 """
     print(help_text)
 
-def main():
+def build_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description="Self-healing infrastructure script (safe-by-default).",
-        add_help=False  # We'll handle --help ourselves
+        add_help=False,
     )
     parser.add_argument("--dry-run", action="store_true", default=False,
                         help="Run in dry-run mode (default behavior).")
@@ -209,25 +210,28 @@ def main():
                         help="Show detailed help about safety features.")
     parser.add_argument("--help", "-h", action="store_true", default=False,
                         help="Show standard help.")
+    return parser
 
-    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+def main(argv: Sequence[str] | None = None):
+    parser = build_parser()
+    args = parser.parse_args(list(argv) if argv is not None else None)
 
     if args.help_safe:
         print_help_safe()
-        sys.exit(0)
+        raise SystemExit(0)
 
     if args.help:
         parser.print_help()
-        sys.exit(0)
+        raise SystemExit(0)
 
-    # Determine mode: if --execute is given, disable dry-run
     dry_run = not args.execute
-    # If --dry-run is explicitly given, ensure dry-run (redundant but clear)
     if args.dry_run:
         dry_run = True
 
     healer = SelfHealer(dry_run=dry_run, confirm_kill=args.confirm_kill, yes=args.yes)
     healer.run()
 
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     main()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_self_healing.py b/tests/test_self_healing.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f1392a14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_self_healing.py
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+"""Tests for scripts/self_healing.py safe CLI behavior."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import importlib.util
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
+import pytest
+
+REPO_ROOT = Path(__file__).parent.parent
+spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("self_healing", REPO_ROOT / "scripts" / "self_healing.py")
+sh = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+spec.loader.exec_module(sh)
+
+
+class TestMainCli:
+    def test_help_exits_without_running_healer(self, monkeypatch, capsys):
+        healer_cls = MagicMock()
+        monkeypatch.setattr(sh, "SelfHealer", healer_cls)
+
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as excinfo:
+            sh.main(["--help"])
+
+        assert excinfo.value.code == 0
+        healer_cls.assert_not_called()
+        out = capsys.readouterr().out
+        assert "--execute" in out
+        assert "--help-safe" in out
+
+    def test_help_safe_exits_without_running_healer(self, monkeypatch, capsys):
+        healer_cls = MagicMock()
+        monkeypatch.setattr(sh, "SelfHealer", healer_cls)
+
+        with pytest.raises(SystemExit) as excinfo:
+            sh.main(["--help-safe"])
+
+        assert excinfo.value.code == 0
+        healer_cls.assert_not_called()
+        out = capsys.readouterr().out
+        assert "DRY-RUN" in out
+        assert "--confirm-kill" in out
+
+    def test_default_invocation_runs_in_dry_run_mode(self, monkeypatch):
+        healer = MagicMock()
+        healer_cls = MagicMock(return_value=healer)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(sh, "SelfHealer", healer_cls)
+
+        sh.main([])
+
+        healer_cls.assert_called_once_with(dry_run=True, confirm_kill=False, yes=False)
+        healer.run.assert_called_once_with()
+
+    def test_execute_flag_disables_dry_run(self, monkeypatch):
+        healer = MagicMock()
+        healer_cls = MagicMock(return_value=healer)
+        monkeypatch.setattr(sh, "SelfHealer", healer_cls)
+
+        sh.main(["--execute", "--yes", "--confirm-kill"])
+
+        healer_cls.assert_called_once_with(dry_run=False, confirm_kill=True, yes=True)
+        healer.run.assert_called_once_with()