diff --git a/modules/mesh-mail/cmd/mesh-mail/acceptance_integration_test.go b/modules/mesh-mail/cmd/mesh-mail/acceptance_integration_test.go
index 11523fad..33ae896c 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-mail/cmd/mesh-mail/acceptance_integration_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-mail/cmd/mesh-mail/acceptance_integration_test.go
@@ -277,7 +277,12 @@ func TestMailSenderAcceptanceARefusedSignInFailsAfterItsAttemptsAndNothingIsRece
 		if err != nil || !ok || kept.Decided == nil {
 			return false, "not yet decided"
 		}
-		return kept.Decided.Outcome != "retrying" && kept.Decided.Outcome != "sending", kept.Decided.Outcome
+		// "queued" is the send's own starting state (queueAnApprovedSend's own write, before the sender
+		// ever claims it): without excluding it here too, this check reads done on the very first look,
+		// long before the sender connects or claims anything at all (novox/hq review: build-1792400882114092431,
+		// 1198/AC4).
+		o := kept.Decided.Outcome
+		return o != "queued" && o != "retrying" && o != "sending", o
 	})
 	cancel()
 	<-done