diff --git a/tests/test_issue50_dispatch_herdr.py b/tests/test_issue50_dispatch_herdr.py
index a6dc623..479592c 100644
--- a/tests/test_issue50_dispatch_herdr.py
+++ b/tests/test_issue50_dispatch_herdr.py
@@ -437,8 +437,10 @@ def test_c8_a_dead_waiter_is_skipped_once_its_signal_is_stale(box):
     box.wait_field(b, "dispatch_wait_at")
     os.kill(proc_b.pid, signal.SIGKILL)             # the wrapper is gone; its waiter sees that and stops
     proc_b.wait(timeout=30)
+    time.sleep(1.2)                                 # C's created_at is a later second: B stays ahead in the FIFO
     proc_c = box.submit(prompt="work C", MAM_DISPATCH_WAIT_S="60")
     c = box.wait_new_job(known | {b})
+    assert box.record(b)["created_at"] < box.record(c)["created_at"]
     _after(2, box.publish, a, "completed", "prior done")
     _after(14, box.publish, c, "started")           # after B's 5 s ack window has long passed
     _after(16, box.publish, c, "completed", "c done")