diff --git a/packages/server/src/terminal/worker-terminal-manager.test.ts b/packages/server/src/terminal/worker-terminal-manager.test.ts
index b13e63b074..e57e413b4c 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/terminal/worker-terminal-manager.test.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/terminal/worker-terminal-manager.test.ts
@@ -1796,7 +1796,6 @@ it("replays bounded ANSI chunks independently of live output and reconstructs th
       rows: 8,
       cols: 120,
       ...nodeTerminalCommand(`
-      for (let i = 0; i < 800; i++) process.stdout.write("\\x1b[31m" + String(i).padStart(4, "0") + ":" + "x".repeat(100) + "\\x1b[0m\\r\\n");
       require("node:readline").createInterface({ input: process.stdin }).on("line", line => {
         if (line !== "before") { process.stdout.write("LIVE-AFTER-REPLAY\\r\\n"); return; }
         process.stdout.write("PRE-CUT");
@@ -1806,6 +1805,9 @@ it("replays bounded ANSI chunks independently of live output and reconstructs th
           process.stdout.write("\\r\\n");
         }, 5);
       });
+      // The last history row is the parent's readiness signal. Install input
+      // handling first so observing that row means the fixture can answer.
+      for (let i = 0; i < 800; i++) process.stdout.write("\\x1b[31m" + String(i).padStart(4, "0") + ":" + "x".repeat(100) + "\\x1b[0m\\r\\n");
       setInterval(() => {}, 1000);
     `),
     }),