diff --git a/tests/Aetheria.Shared.Tests/RunSaveTests.cs b/tests/Aetheria.Shared.Tests/RunSaveTests.cs
index 51db6b137..c8630cdfd 100644
--- a/tests/Aetheria.Shared.Tests/RunSaveTests.cs
+++ b/tests/Aetheria.Shared.Tests/RunSaveTests.cs
@@ -139,11 +139,14 @@ public sealed class RunSaveTests : IDisposable
         Assert.Equal(8, saved.Length);
 
         using (var cache = Open())
+        {
             Assert.Null(RunSave.Replace<ZonePack>(cache, () =>
             {
-                StageZoneContents(cache);
+                WriteAnOrbitTheSavedRunLacks(cache);
                 return null;
             }));
+            Assert.Equal(saved, RunKeys(cache));
+        }
         using (var cache = Open())
         {
             Assert.Equal(saved, RunKeys(cache));
@@ -151,11 +154,14 @@ public sealed class RunSaveTests : IDisposable
         }
 
         using (var cache = Open())
+        {
             Assert.Throws<InvalidOperationException>(() => RunSave.Replace<ZonePack>(cache, () =>
             {
-                StageZoneContents(cache);
+                WriteAnOrbitTheSavedRunLacks(cache);
                 throw new InvalidOperationException("the arena would not generate");
             }));
+            Assert.Equal(saved, RunKeys(cache));
+        }
         using (var cache = Open())
             Assert.Equal(saved, RunKeys(cache));
 
@@ -582,6 +588,9 @@ public sealed class RunSaveTests : IDisposable
         QualityPriceModifier = new ExponentialLerp()
     };
 
+    // What a start that fails leaves behind: a record of its own, which the saved run does not hold.
+    private static void WriteAnOrbitTheSavedRunLacks(CultCache cache) => cache.Upsert(new OrbitData { Distance = 99 });
+
     // Two orbits and a body upserted into the run store and left staged, as zone generation leaves them.
     private static ZonePack StageZoneContents(CultCache cache)
     {