diff --git a/src/test/consensus/ConsensusRng_test.cpp b/src/test/consensus/ConsensusRng_test.cpp
index 749ff2e7b..d8fe5563f 100644
--- a/src/test/consensus/ConsensusRng_test.cpp
+++ b/src/test/consensus/ConsensusRng_test.cpp
@@ -1400,7 +1400,9 @@ public:
 
         // Four witness-ledger validations make that branch preferred. Peer 0
         // must never fully validate its local witness-less build and must
-        // subsequently jump back to the witness-bearing history.
+        // promote the acquired witness ledger before subsequent recovery.
+        BEAST_EXPECT(
+            peers[0]->fullyValidatedLedger.id() == witnessLedger.id());
         BEAST_EXPECT(
             peers[0]->fullyValidatedLedger.id() != witnesslessLedger.id());
         for (Peer* peer : peers)