diff --git a/packages/server/lib/project-base.ts b/packages/server/lib/project-base.ts
index 14ead3335c4..40331d80999 100644
--- a/packages/server/lib/project-base.ts
+++ b/packages/server/lib/project-base.ts
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ export class ProjectBase extends EE {
       })
     }
 
-    if (!cfg.isTextTerminal && this.testingType === 'e2e') {
+    if ((!cfg.isTextTerminal || process.env.CYPRESS_INTERNAL_SIMULATE_OPEN_MODE) && this.testingType === 'e2e') {
       const studioLifecycleManager = new StudioLifecycleManager()
 
       studioLifecycleManager.initializeStudioManager({
diff --git a/packages/server/test/unit/project_spec.js b/packages/server/test/unit/project_spec.js
index 5d6b6fe38f0..d47b9ddfa75 100644
--- a/packages/server/test/unit/project_spec.js
+++ b/packages/server/test/unit/project_spec.js
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ let ctx
 describe('lib/project-base', () => {
   beforeEach(async function () {
     delete process.env.CYPRESS_LOCAL_STUDIO_PATH
+    delete process.env.CYPRESS_INTERNAL_SIMULATE_OPEN_MODE
 
     ctx = getCtx()
     Fixtures.scaffold()
@@ -646,6 +647,21 @@ This option will not have an effect in Some-other-name. Tests that rely on web s
 
         expect(this.project.ctx.coreData.studioLifecycleManager).to.not.be.undefined
       })
+
+      it('creates studio lifecycle manager when CYPRESS_INTERNAL_SIMULATE_OPEN_MODE is set even in text terminal mode', async function () {
+        this.project.cfg.isTextTerminal = true
+        process.env.CYPRESS_INTERNAL_SIMULATE_OPEN_MODE = '1'
+
+        sinon.stub(this.project, 'saveState').resolves()
+        sinon.stub(process, 'chdir')
+
+        await this.project.open()
+
+        expect(this.project.ctx.coreData.studioLifecycleManager).to.not.be.undefined
+
+        // Clean up environment variable
+        delete process.env.CYPRESS_INTERNAL_SIMULATE_OPEN_MODE
+      })
     })
   })