diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/README.md b/packages/mongodb-runner/README.md
index bc31a208..714eb253 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-runner/README.md
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/README.md
@@ -150,6 +150,18 @@ layer, managing the storage backend's docker compose project alongside the
 mongod processes. See
 [docs/disaggregated-storage.md](./docs/disaggregated-storage.md).
 
+Point it at an SLS dir — the `buildscripts/modules/atlas` directory of a
+disaggregated-storage-capable MongoDB build (an installed build or a Server
+source checkout), or any parent containing it — and everything else is located
+automatically:
+
+```bash
+# installed build
+npx @mongodb-js/mongodb-runner start -t replset --slsDir=/path/to/dsc-install --binDir=...
+# Server source checkout
+npx @mongodb-js/mongodb-runner start -t replset --slsDir=$MONGO_REPO --binDir=...
+```
+
 ## License
 
 Apache 2.0
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/docs/disaggregated-storage.md b/packages/mongodb-runner/docs/disaggregated-storage.md
index 79414caf..65270c4d 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-runner/docs/disaggregated-storage.md
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/docs/disaggregated-storage.md
@@ -42,46 +42,49 @@ override.
   - `binDir`: a local directory containing the binaries, or
   - `downloadUrl`: a URL to a tarball of such a build (cached by URL, standard
     release-tarball layout with a top-level directory containing `bin/`).
-- The SLS multi-cell compose file — mongodb-runner does not ship one; point
-  it at the file you want to use, typically
-  `buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml` in a mongodb
-  server checkout. Files it references (`slsbackup.proto`,
-  `flags-state.json`) are resolved relative to it, and the services/ports are
-  parsed from it, so any version of the file works as-is.
+- The SLS dir — mongodb-runner does not ship these files. They live in the
+  `buildscripts/modules/atlas` directory of the 10gen/mongo repo and are:
+  - `sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml` — the multi-cell compose file.
+  - `manifest.json` — its `pinned_sls_commit` supplies the default image tag.
+  - `slsbackup.proto` and `flags-state.json` — files the compose file
+    references.
+
+  Point `slsDir` at it; the runner locates and validates the files and reads
+  the image tag from the manifest.
+
 - The image tag is read automatically from the `pinned_sls_commit` in
-  `manifest.json` sitting next to the compose file (the server repository's
-  `buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json`). Pass `--slsImageTag` to
+  `manifest.json` sitting next to the compose file. Pass `--slsImageTag` to
   override it.
 
 ## Quick start
 
-Given the compose file, everything else (image tag, compose environment
+Given a disaggregated-storage-capable MongoDB build — an installed build or a
+Server source checkout — everything else (image tag, compose environment
 variables, readiness polling, per-shard log creation, and the
 `disaggregatedStorageConfig` server parameter) is generated automatically.
-Full sequence, assuming a mongodb server checkout at `$MONGO_REPO`:
+Assuming a build at `$BUILD_DIR`:
 
 ```bash
 # 1. Log in to the SLS image registry
 aws ecr get-login-password --region us-east-1 | \
   docker login --username AWS --password-stdin 664315256653.dkr.ecr.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
 
-# 2. Start a 2-node replica set backed by SLS (the image tag is read from the
-# manifest.json next to the compose file; pass --slsImageTag to override it)
-@mongodb-js/mongodb-runner start -t replset \
-  --slsCompose=$MONGO_REPO/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml \
-  --binDir=/path/to/dsc-mongod/bin \
-  --debug
-# or, instead of --binDir:
-#   --downloadUrl=https://.../dsc-mongod.tgz
+# 2. Start a 2-node replica set backed by SLS
+@mongodb-js/mongodb-runner start --topology=replset --slsDir="$BUILD_DIR" \
+  --binDir=/path/to/dsc-mongod/bin --logDir="$LOG_DIR" --id=tools-dsc
 ```
 
+`--slsDir` locates and validates the SLS dir and reads the image tag from its
+`manifest.json`; for a Server source checkout, point it at the repo root and
+the files are found under `buildscripts/modules/atlas`.
+
 This prints the connection string once the cluster is up. To get the allocated
 SLS service ports/URIs as structured output, add `--json` and capture stdout to
 a file instead of scraping it:
 
 ```bash
 mongodb-runner start -t replset \
-  --slsCompose=$MONGO_REPO/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml \
+  --slsDir="$BUILD_DIR" \
   --binDir=/path/to/dsc-mongod/bin \
   --json > cluster.json
 ```
@@ -244,13 +247,11 @@ server parameter for one shard; options: `logId`, `cellMetadataService`,
 
 ## CLI use
 
-For an SLS project, `--slsCompose` handles everything (see Quick start);
+For an SLS project, `--slsDir` handles everything (see Quick start);
 `--slsImageTag` is optional and overrides the tag read from the manifest:
 
 ```bash
-@mongodb-js/mongodb-runner start -t replset \
-  --slsCompose=/path/to/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml \
-  --binDir=...
+@mongodb-js/mongodb-runner start -t replset --slsDir=/path/to/dsc-install --binDir=...
 ```
 
 Custom (non-SLS) storage backends are only supported through the programmatic
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/examples/sls-replset.js b/packages/mongodb-runner/examples/sls-replset.js
index 1c9f5dc9..d5258c82 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-runner/examples/sls-replset.js
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/examples/sls-replset.js
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 //
 // This is equivalent to:
 //   mongodb-runner start -t replset \
-//     --slsCompose=<path> --binDir=...
+//     --slsDir=<path> --binDir=...
 
 // Enable mongodb-runner debug output (compose progress, server startup, ...)
 // unless the user already configured DEBUG themselves.
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/cli.spec.ts b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/cli.spec.ts
index de31415d..a6d6027e 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/cli.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/cli.spec.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,15 @@ async function runCli(
   return stdout;
 }
 
+async function runCliExpectingFailure(args: string[]): Promise<string> {
+  try {
+    await runCli(args);
+  } catch (err) {
+    return String((err as { stderr?: string }).stderr ?? '');
+  }
+  throw new Error(`expected the CLI to fail: ${args.join(' ')}`);
+}
+
 describe('cli', function () {
   this.timeout(process.platform === 'win32' ? 400_000 : 100_000);
   let tmpDir = '';
@@ -213,4 +222,22 @@ describe('cli', function () {
 
     expect(JSON.parse(stdout)).to.deep.equal([]);
   });
+
+  it('rejects a --slsDir with no path', async function () {
+    const stderr = await runCliExpectingFailure(['start', '--slsDir']);
+    expect(stderr, 'the error should say a path is required').to.include(
+      '--slsDir requires a path',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('rejects a --slsDir that is not an SLS dir', async function () {
+    const stderr = await runCliExpectingFailure([
+      'start',
+      `--slsDir=${path.join(tmpDir, 'not-an-sls-dir')}`,
+    ]);
+    expect(
+      stderr,
+      'a directory without the SLS files should be rejected',
+    ).to.include('not a disaggregated-storage-capable MongoDB build');
+  });
 });
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/cli.ts b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/cli.ts
index 6f217386..9d07d896 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/cli.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/cli.ts
@@ -84,15 +84,15 @@ import type { MongoClientOptions } from 'mongodb';
       type: 'string',
       describe: 'Configure OIDC authentication on the server',
     })
-    .option('slsCompose', {
+    .option('slsDir', {
       type: 'string',
       describe:
-        'Path to an SLS multi-cell docker-compose.yml; launches the SLS DSC project and configures mongod to use it (requires a DSC-capable mongod via --binDir or --downloadUrl)',
+        'Path to an SLS dir: its buildscripts/modules/atlas directory, or any parent containing it (an installed build or a Server source checkout). Locates the compose file and reads the image tag from the manifest',
     })
     .option('slsImageTag', {
       type: 'string',
       describe:
-        'SLS docker image tag to use with --slsCompose (defaults to the pinned_sls_commit from the manifest.json next to the compose file)',
+        'SLS docker image tag to use (defaults to the pinned_sls_commit from the manifest.json next to the compose file)',
     })
     .option('debug', { type: 'boolean', describe: 'Enable debug output' })
     .option('verbose', { type: 'boolean', describe: 'Enable verbose output' })
@@ -135,10 +135,26 @@ import type { MongoClientOptions } from 'mongodb';
     );
   }
 
+  async function resolveSlsComposeFile(): Promise<string | undefined> {
+    if (argv.slsDir === undefined) {
+      return undefined;
+    }
+    if (!argv.slsDir) {
+      throw new Error(
+        '--slsDir requires a path to a directory containing the SLS services docker compose file and other helper files - see the disaggregated storage docs for more details',
+      );
+    }
+    const resolved = await utilities.resolveSLSDir(argv.slsDir, {
+      requireManifest: !argv.slsImageTag,
+    });
+    return resolved.composeFile;
+  }
+
   async function start() {
-    const disaggregatedStorage = argv.slsCompose
+    const composeFile = await resolveSlsComposeFile();
+    const disaggregatedStorage = composeFile
       ? await utilities.createSLSDisaggregatedStorageOptions({
-          composeFile: argv.slsCompose,
+          composeFile,
           imageTag: argv.slsImageTag,
         })
       : undefined;
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/index.ts b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/index.ts
index 870df0f3..a96e0cc7 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/index.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ export {
   type SLSDisaggregatedStorageSetupOptions,
   parseSLSComposeServices,
   readPinnedSlsCommit,
+  resolveSLSDir,
+  SLS_ATLAS_SUBDIR,
   SLS_HOSTNAME,
   SLS_CELL1,
   SLS_CELL2,
@@ -33,6 +35,8 @@ export {
   type SLSServiceInfo,
   type SLSMultiCellEnvironment,
   type SLSMultiCellEnvironmentOptions,
+  type SLSDir,
+  type ResolveSLSDirOptions,
 } from './sls';
 export {
   DockerComposeProject,
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/sls.spec.ts b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/sls.spec.ts
index 8a433e1c..c97fe211 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/sls.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/sls.spec.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   createSLSDisaggregatedStorageOptions,
   createSLSMultiCellEnvironment,
   readPinnedSlsCommit,
+  resolveSLSDir,
 } from './sls';
 import { allocatePorts, uuid } from './util';
 import { isBindable } from '../test/helpers';
@@ -55,6 +56,124 @@ describe('sls', function () {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('resolveSLSDir', function () {
+    it('resolves an SLS dir addressed by install root', async function () {
+      const root = path.join(FIXTURES, 'sls-dir-complete');
+      const slsDir = await resolveSLSDir(root);
+      expect(
+        slsDir.composeFile,
+        'compose file should be found under buildscripts/modules/atlas',
+      ).to.equal(
+        path.join(
+          root,
+          'buildscripts',
+          'modules',
+          'atlas',
+          'sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml',
+        ),
+      );
+      expect(
+        slsDir.manifestFile,
+        'manifest should sit next to the compose file',
+      ).to.equal(path.join(slsDir.atlasDir, 'manifest.json'));
+    });
+
+    it('resolves an SLS dir addressed by its atlas directory', async function () {
+      const atlasDir = path.join(
+        FIXTURES,
+        'sls-dir-complete',
+        'buildscripts',
+        'modules',
+        'atlas',
+      );
+      const slsDir = await resolveSLSDir(atlasDir);
+      expect(
+        slsDir.atlasDir,
+        'passing the atlas dir directly should also work',
+      ).to.equal(atlasDir);
+    });
+
+    it('lists every missing file, not just the first', async function () {
+      const err = await resolveSLSDir(
+        path.join(FIXTURES, 'sls-dir-incomplete'),
+      ).catch((e: Error) => e);
+      const message = (err as Error).message;
+      expect(
+        message,
+        'error should say this is not a disagg-capable build',
+      ).to.include('not a disaggregated-storage-capable MongoDB build');
+      expect(message, 'should report the missing proto').to.include(
+        'slsbackup.proto',
+      );
+      expect(message, 'should report the missing flags state too').to.include(
+        'flags-state.json',
+      );
+    });
+
+    it('rejects a required file that is actually a directory', async function () {
+      const err = await resolveSLSDir(
+        path.join(FIXTURES, 'sls-dir-dir-placeholder'),
+      ).catch((e: Error) => e);
+      expect(
+        (err as Error).message,
+        'a directory named like a required file should be reported missing',
+      ).to.include('slsbackup.proto');
+    });
+
+    it('rejects a directory that is not a MongoDB build', async function () {
+      const err = await resolveSLSDir(path.join(FIXTURES, 'not-a-build')).catch(
+        (e: Error) => e,
+      );
+      expect(
+        (err as Error).message,
+        'a non-build directory should be rejected clearly',
+      ).to.include('not a disaggregated-storage-capable MongoDB build');
+    });
+
+    it('returns absolute paths for a relative directory', async function () {
+      const relative = path.relative(
+        process.cwd(),
+        path.join(FIXTURES, 'sls-dir-complete'),
+      );
+      const slsDir = await resolveSLSDir(relative);
+      expect(
+        path.isAbsolute(slsDir.composeFile),
+        'the compose file must be absolute so it survives a change of cwd',
+      ).to.be.true;
+      expect(
+        path.isAbsolute(slsDir.atlasDir),
+        'the atlas dir must be absolute too',
+      ).to.be.true;
+    });
+
+    it('requires a manifest by default', async function () {
+      const err = await resolveSLSDir(
+        path.join(FIXTURES, 'sls-dir-no-manifest'),
+      ).catch((e: Error) => e);
+      expect(
+        (err as Error).message,
+        'a missing manifest should be reported by default',
+      ).to.include('manifest.json');
+    });
+
+    it('allows a missing manifest when the tag is supplied', async function () {
+      const dir = path.join(FIXTURES, 'sls-dir-no-manifest');
+      const slsDir = await resolveSLSDir(dir, { requireManifest: false });
+      expect(
+        slsDir.composeFile,
+        'the compose file should still be located without a manifest',
+      ).to.equal(
+        path.join(
+          dir,
+          'buildscripts',
+          'modules',
+          'atlas',
+          'sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml',
+        ),
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('createSLSMultiCellEnvironment', function () {
     let tmpDir: string;
     let composeFile: string;
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/sls.ts b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/sls.ts
index 5eada7e5..645ad864 100644
--- a/packages/mongodb-runner/src/sls.ts
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/src/sls.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,96 @@ export async function readPinnedSlsCommit(atlasDir: string): Promise<string> {
   return pinned;
 }
 
+/** Relative path of the atlas module directory inside a Server build. */
+export const SLS_ATLAS_SUBDIR = path.join('buildscripts', 'modules', 'atlas');
+
+const SLS_COMPOSE_FILE = 'sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml';
+const SLS_BACKUP_PROTO_FILE = 'slsbackup.proto';
+const SLS_FLAGS_STATE_FILE = 'flags-state.json';
+
+/** Files that make up the SLS dir of a disaggregated-storage-capable build. */
+export interface SLSDir {
+  /** The `buildscripts/modules/atlas` directory holding the SLS files. */
+  atlasDir: string;
+  composeFile: string;
+  manifestFile: string;
+  backupProtoFile: string;
+  flagsStateFile: string;
+}
+
+async function exists(file: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  try {
+    await fs.access(file);
+    return true;
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+async function isFile(file: string): Promise<boolean> {
+  try {
+    // fs.stat follows symlinks, so a symlink to a file still counts.
+    return (await fs.stat(file)).isFile();
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
+
+export interface ResolveSLSDirOptions {
+  /**
+   * Whether `manifest.json` must be present. It is only read to derive the
+   * default image tag, so callers that pass an explicit tag can skip it.
+   * Defaults to true.
+   */
+  requireManifest?: boolean;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Locate the SLS dir inside a disaggregated-storage-capable MongoDB build.
+ * `dir` may be either the install root or the `buildscripts/modules/atlas`
+ * directory itself. All returned paths are absolute, so they remain valid
+ * when the SLS project is torn down from a different working directory.
+ */
+export async function resolveSLSDir(
+  dir: string,
+  options: ResolveSLSDirOptions = {},
+): Promise<SLSDir> {
+  const base = path.resolve(dir);
+  const nested = path.join(base, SLS_ATLAS_SUBDIR);
+  const atlasDir = (await exists(nested)) ? nested : base;
+
+  const slsDir: SLSDir = {
+    atlasDir,
+    composeFile: path.join(atlasDir, SLS_COMPOSE_FILE),
+    manifestFile: path.join(atlasDir, SLS_MANIFEST_FILE),
+    backupProtoFile: path.join(atlasDir, SLS_BACKUP_PROTO_FILE),
+    flagsStateFile: path.join(atlasDir, SLS_FLAGS_STATE_FILE),
+  };
+
+  const required = [
+    slsDir.composeFile,
+    slsDir.backupProtoFile,
+    slsDir.flagsStateFile,
+  ];
+  if (options.requireManifest ?? true) {
+    required.splice(1, 0, slsDir.manifestFile);
+  }
+
+  const missing: string[] = [];
+  for (const file of required) {
+    if (!(await isFile(file))) missing.push(path.basename(file));
+  }
+  if (missing.length) {
+    throw new Error(
+      `${dir} is not a disaggregated-storage-capable MongoDB build ` +
+        `(missing: ${missing.join(', ')}; looked in ${atlasDir})`,
+    );
+  }
+
+  debug('resolved SLS dir', { atlasDir });
+  return slsDir;
+}
+
 export interface SLSServiceInfo {
   /** Environment variable through which the compose file receives the host port. */
   portVar: string;
@@ -173,7 +263,7 @@ export interface SLSMultiCellEnvironment {
 export async function createSLSMultiCellEnvironment(
   options: SLSMultiCellEnvironmentOptions,
 ): Promise<SLSMultiCellEnvironment> {
-  const { composeFile } = options;
+  const composeFile = path.resolve(options.composeFile);
   const imageTag =
     options.imageTag ?? (await readPinnedSlsCommit(path.dirname(composeFile)));
 
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/not-a-build/.gitkeep b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/not-a-build/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/flags-state.json b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/flags-state.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0967ef42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/flags-state.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{}
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1f5ab420
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "pinned_sls_commit": "slsdircommit123" }
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a317d36f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+services:
+  cms-cell1-0:
+    ports:
+      - '${CMS_CELL1_0_PORT:-30001}:27998'
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/slsbackup.proto b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/slsbackup.proto
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ff7bd09c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-complete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/slsbackup.proto
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+// placeholder
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/flags-state.json b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/flags-state.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0967ef42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/flags-state.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{}
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1f5ab420
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "pinned_sls_commit": "slsdircommit123" }
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a317d36f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+services:
+  cms-cell1-0:
+    ports:
+      - '${CMS_CELL1_0_PORT:-30001}:27998'
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/slsbackup.proto/.gitkeep b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-dir-placeholder/buildscripts/modules/atlas/slsbackup.proto/.gitkeep
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-incomplete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-incomplete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1f5ab420
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-incomplete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/manifest.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{ "pinned_sls_commit": "slsdircommit123" }
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-incomplete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-incomplete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a317d36f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-incomplete/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+services:
+  cms-cell1-0:
+    ports:
+      - '${CMS_CELL1_0_PORT:-30001}:27998'
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-no-manifest/buildscripts/modules/atlas/flags-state.json b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-no-manifest/buildscripts/modules/atlas/flags-state.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0967ef42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-no-manifest/buildscripts/modules/atlas/flags-state.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{}
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-no-manifest/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-no-manifest/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a317d36f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-no-manifest/buildscripts/modules/atlas/sls-multicell-docker-compose.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+services:
+  cms-cell1-0:
+    ports:
+      - '${CMS_CELL1_0_PORT:-30001}:27998'
diff --git a/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-no-manifest/buildscripts/modules/atlas/slsbackup.proto b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-no-manifest/buildscripts/modules/atlas/slsbackup.proto
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ff7bd09c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/mongodb-runner/test/fixtures/sls/sls-dir-no-manifest/buildscripts/modules/atlas/slsbackup.proto
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+// placeholder