diff --git a/beetsplug/bpd/gstplayer.py b/beetsplug/bpd/gstplayer.py
index fa23f2b0e..f356b3066 100644
--- a/beetsplug/bpd/gstplayer.py
+++ b/beetsplug/bpd/gstplayer.py
@@ -27,7 +27,16 @@ import gi
 
 from beets import ui
 
-gi.require_version("Gst", "1.0")
+try:
+    gi.require_version("Gst", "1.0")
+except ValueError as e:
+    # on some scenarios, gi may be importable, but we get a ValueError when
+    # trying to specify the required version. This is problematic in the test
+    # suite where test_bpd.py has a call to
+    # pytest.importorskip("beetsplug.bpd"). Re-raising as an ImportError
+    # makes it so the test collector functions as inteded.
+    raise ImportError from e
+
 from gi.repository import GLib, Gst  # noqa: E402
 
 Gst.init(None)
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index c5a0dab53..2f618103f 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -66,6 +66,8 @@ Other changes:
 - Refactored the ``beets/ui/commands.py`` monolithic file (2000+ lines) into
   multiple modules within the ``beets/ui/commands`` directory for better
   maintainability.
+- :doc:`plugins/bpd`: Raise ImportError instead of ValueError when GStreamer is
+  unavailable, enabling ``importorskip`` usage in pytest setup.
 
 2.5.1 (October 14, 2025)
 ------------------------