diff --git a/modules/mesh-mail-reader/cmd/mesh-mail-reader/acceptance_integration_test.go b/modules/mesh-mail-reader/cmd/mesh-mail-reader/acceptance_integration_test.go
index aa8ebf4f..38325a9f 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-mail-reader/cmd/mesh-mail-reader/acceptance_integration_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-mail-reader/cmd/mesh-mail-reader/acceptance_integration_test.go
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ func TestAcceptanceOneMatteringMailSendsExactlyOneTellNamingIt(t *testing.T) {
 	r := startReader(t)
 	r.stand.MailAccounts = oneAccountAnswer("bob")
 	r.stand.MailRead = func(map[string]any) (any, error) { return map[string]any{"text": "pay by friday"}, nil }
-	r.stand.Judge = judgeEveryMailAs("matters", "", "due friday", "2026-11-01")
+	r.stand.Judge = judgeEveryMailAs("matters", "", "due friday", time.Now().UTC().AddDate(0, 0, 7).Format("2006-01-02"))
 
 	var checked recorded[string]
 	r.stand.MessengerCheck = func(args map[string]any) (any, error) {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-mail-reader/cmd/mesh-mail-reader/catchup_integration_test.go b/modules/mesh-mail-reader/cmd/mesh-mail-reader/catchup_integration_test.go
index 665114f8..57c02a77 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-mail-reader/cmd/mesh-mail-reader/catchup_integration_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-mail-reader/cmd/mesh-mail-reader/catchup_integration_test.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func TestAcceptanceRefusedJudgementIsUnhealthyThenCatchesUpInPublishedOrder(t *t
 		}
 		mails := make([]map[string]any, len(ids))
 		for i, id := range ids {
-			mails[i] = map[string]any{"id": id, "mark": "matters", "summary": "s", "why": "pay", "due-date": "2026-11-01"}
+			mails[i] = map[string]any{"id": id, "mark": "matters", "summary": "s", "why": "pay", "due-date": time.Now().UTC().AddDate(0, 0, 7).Format("2006-01-02")}
 		}
 		raw, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"mails": mails})
 		return map[string]any{"answer": json.RawMessage(raw)}, nil