diff --git a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs
index c90d9cc..e0ec6cf 100644
--- a/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs
+++ b/crates/maestro-daemon/tests/session_manager.rs
@@ -769,6 +769,14 @@ async fn natural_exit_of_a_guarded_worktree_retains_it_in_the_store() {
         "a dirty worktree must be retained on natural exit"
     );
     // ...in the store, under the exit reason.
+    // (`Dead` is observable a moment before the settle step's store write lands.)
+    wait_for_async(Duration::from_secs(3), || async {
+        fx.retained_store()
+            .load_all()
+            .map(|all| all.len() == 1)
+            .unwrap_or(false)
+    })
+    .await;
     let all = fx.retained_store().load_all().expect("load_all");
     assert_eq!(all.len(), 1);
     assert_eq!(all[0].path, wt_path);