diff --git a/internal/notifications/apprise_confidentiality_test.go b/internal/notifications/apprise_confidentiality_test.go
index b177468e76..2a08e73115 100644
--- a/internal/notifications/apprise_confidentiality_test.go
+++ b/internal/notifications/apprise_confidentiality_test.go
@@ -305,10 +305,10 @@ func TestAppriseQueueConfidentiality(t *testing.T) {
 					t.Fatal(err)
 				}
 				q.SetProcessor(n.ProcessQueuedNotification)
-				q.processBatch()
-				// The autonomous worker can win the atomic claim. Its committed
-				// attempt audit, not the return from our stale snapshot, is proof
-				// the send completed. Stop processing before the retry wake.
+				// SetProcessor wakes the autonomous dispatcher. Do not also run
+				// a manual batch against the same pending snapshot: that can
+				// claim a retry before its scheduled wake. Observe the worker's
+				// committed audit, then pause retries before checking the row.
 				deadline := time.Now().Add(3 * time.Second)
 				for {
 					var count int
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ func TestAppriseQueueConfidentiality(t *testing.T) {
 					wantStatus = QueueStatusDLQ
 				}
 				if gotStatus != string(wantStatus) || attempts != 1 || rawConfig != string(config) {
-					t.Error("queue lifecycle, attempt budget or admitted credentials changed")
+					t.Errorf("queue lifecycle: status=%s want=%s attempts=%d want=1 configUnchanged=%t", gotStatus, wantStatus, attempts, rawConfig == string(config))
 				}
 				if status == http.StatusUnauthorized && (!lastError.Valid || !strings.Contains(lastError.String, "HTTP 401")) {
 					t.Error("DLQ error observation was lost")