diff --git a/lib/plugin/retryFailedStep.js b/lib/plugin/retryFailedStep.js
index 6d43bf8da..1bf29641c 100644
--- a/lib/plugin/retryFailedStep.js
+++ b/lib/plugin/retryFailedStep.js
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ module.exports = config => {
   event.dispatcher.on(event.test.before, test => {
     // pass disableRetryFailedStep is a preferred way to disable retries
     // test.disableRetryFailedStep is used for backward compatibility
+    if (!test.opts) test.opts = {}
     if (test.opts.disableRetryFailedStep || test.disableRetryFailedStep) {
       store.autoRetries = false
       return // disable retry when a test is not active
diff --git a/test/unit/plugin/retryFailedStep_interactive_shell_test.js b/test/unit/plugin/retryFailedStep_interactive_shell_test.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a0b284412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/unit/plugin/retryFailedStep_interactive_shell_test.js
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+const assert = require('assert')
+const event = require('../../../lib/event')
+const retryFailedStep = require('../../../lib/plugin/retryFailedStep')
+
+describe('retryFailedStep plugin (interactive shell regression)', () => {
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    // Remove all listeners to avoid side effects
+    event.cleanDispatcher()
+    // Re-register plugin
+    retryFailedStep({ enabled: true })
+  })
+
+  it('should not throw when test.before is emitted without opts (interactive shell)', () => {
+    // Simulate the event as emitted by the interactive shell (no opts)
+    assert.doesNotThrow(() => {
+      event.dispatcher.emit(event.test.before, { title: 'Interactive', artifacts: {} })
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('should not throw when test.before is emitted with opts', () => {
+    assert.doesNotThrow(() => {
+      event.dispatcher.emit(event.test.before, { title: 'Normal', artifacts: {}, opts: {} })
+    })
+  })
+})