diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/heartbeat-process-recovery.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/heartbeat-process-recovery.test.ts
index 797fa163..723f8455 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/heartbeat-process-recovery.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/heartbeat-process-recovery.test.ts
@@ -1425,8 +1425,11 @@ describeEmbeddedPostgres("heartbeat orphaned process recovery", () => {
     });
     expect(recoveryAction?.nextAction).toContain("Repair the source issue workspace link");
 
-    const comments = await db.select().from(issueComments).where(eq(issueComments.issueId, issueId));
-    expect(comments.some((comment) => comment.body.includes("workspace failed validation"))).toBe(true);
+    const validationComment = await waitForValue(async () => {
+      const rows = await db.select().from(issueComments).where(eq(issueComments.issueId, issueId));
+      return rows.find((comment) => comment.body.includes("workspace failed validation")) ?? null;
+    });
+    expect(validationComment).toBeTruthy();
   });
 
   it("queues one finish-handoff wake when a successful run leaves in-progress work without a next action", async () => {