diff --git a/extensions/qa-channel/src/inbound.test.ts b/extensions/qa-channel/src/inbound.test.ts
index 9e705816771..4555b361684 100644
--- a/extensions/qa-channel/src/inbound.test.ts
+++ b/extensions/qa-channel/src/inbound.test.ts
@@ -46,6 +46,14 @@ function createQaInboundParams(
   };
 }
 
+function firstRunAssembledParams(runtime: ReturnType<typeof createPluginRuntimeMock>) {
+  const call = vi.mocked(runtime.channel.turn.runAssembled).mock.calls[0];
+  if (!call) {
+    throw new Error("expected assembled turn call");
+  }
+  return call[0];
+}
+
 describe("isHttpMediaUrl", () => {
   it("accepts only http and https urls", () => {
     expect(isHttpMediaUrl("https://example.com/image.png")).toBe(true);
@@ -78,12 +86,9 @@ describe("handleQaInbound", () => {
     );
 
     expect(runtime.channel.turn.runAssembled).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    expect(
-      vi.mocked(runtime.channel.turn.runAssembled).mock.calls.at(0)?.[0].replyPipeline,
-    ).toEqual({});
-    expect(
-      vi.mocked(runtime.channel.turn.runAssembled).mock.calls.at(0)?.[0].ctxPayload.WasMentioned,
-    ).toBe(true);
+    const assembled = firstRunAssembledParams(runtime);
+    expect(assembled.replyPipeline).toEqual({});
+    expect(assembled.ctxPayload.WasMentioned).toBe(true);
   });
 
   it("drops direct messages outside the configured sender allowlist", async () => {
@@ -114,9 +119,7 @@ describe("handleQaInbound", () => {
     );
 
     expect(runtime.channel.turn.runAssembled).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    const ctxPayload = vi
-      .mocked(runtime.channel.turn.runAssembled)
-      .mock.calls.at(0)?.[0].ctxPayload;
+    const ctxPayload = firstRunAssembledParams(runtime).ctxPayload;
     expect(ctxPayload?.CommandAuthorized).toBe(true);
     expect(ctxPayload?.SenderId).toBe("alice");
   });