diff --git a/api/test/services/digest-service.test.ts b/api/test/services/digest-service.test.ts
index 6cffda7d..297c7592 100644
--- a/api/test/services/digest-service.test.ts
+++ b/api/test/services/digest-service.test.ts
@@ -302,7 +302,13 @@ test("sendDueDigests: an empty digest isn't sent, a late one covers the last per
   assert(windowOf(quiet.id, "weekly")! > ago(2 * DAY));
 
   const late = await createUser({ createdAt: ago(60 * DAY) });
-  const d = insertDump({ userId: quiet.id, title: "Recent" });
+  // Dated in the past: a dump posted in the very millisecond the run takes
+  // as `now` falls outside the window, which ends before it.
+  const d = insertDump({
+    userId: quiet.id,
+    title: "Recent",
+    createdAt: ago(DAY),
+  });
   vote(d.id, 1);
   schedule(late.id, "weekly", ago(5 * PERIOD_MS.weekly));
   const local = await createUser({