diff --git a/src/commands/backup.atomic.test.ts b/src/commands/backup.atomic.test.ts
index 3f519f57fe1..baf38c1efba 100644
--- a/src/commands/backup.atomic.test.ts
+++ b/src/commands/backup.atomic.test.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,10 @@ describe("backupCreateCommand atomic archive write", () => {
     };
   }
 
+  async function expectPathMissing(targetPath: string): Promise<void> {
+    await expect(fs.access(targetPath)).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: "ENOENT" });
+  }
+
   it("does not leave a partial final archive behind when tar creation fails", async () => {
     const { archiveDir, outputPath, runtime } = await prepareAtomicBackupScenario({
       archivePrefix: "openclaw-backup-failure-",
@@ -68,7 +72,7 @@ describe("backupCreateCommand atomic archive write", () => {
         }),
       ).rejects.toThrow(/disk full/i);
 
-      await expect(fs.access(outputPath)).rejects.toThrow();
+      await expectPathMissing(outputPath);
       const remaining = await fs.readdir(archiveDir);
       expect(remaining).toEqual([]);
     } finally {