diff --git a/src/infra/update-startup.test.ts b/src/infra/update-startup.test.ts
index 793a1d87b1b..cf53f19377b 100644
--- a/src/infra/update-startup.test.ts
+++ b/src/infra/update-startup.test.ts
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ describe("update-startup", () => {
     return { log, parsed };
   }
 
+  async function expectPathMissing(targetPath: string): Promise<void> {
+    await expect(fs.stat(targetPath)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
+  }
+
   function createAutoUpdateSuccessMock() {
     return vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({
       ok: true,
@@ -295,7 +299,7 @@ describe("update-startup", () => {
     });
 
     expect(log.info).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
-    await expect(fs.stat(path.join(tempDir, "update-check.json"))).rejects.toThrow();
+    await expectPathMissing(path.join(tempDir, "update-check.json"));
   });
 
   it("defers stable auto-update until rollout window is due", async () => {