diff --git a/internal/apply/placement_homes_test.go b/internal/apply/placement_homes_test.go
index 39c53e2..6d924f9 100644
--- a/internal/apply/placement_homes_test.go
+++ b/internal/apply/placement_homes_test.go
@@ -20,10 +20,11 @@ func TestBelowAHomeOnlyThatAccountsDirectoryIsPlaced(t *testing.T) {
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(home, 0o755); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	me := os.Getuid()
+	// A uid of its own, never the test's: the build seat runs tests as root, and root's home is no person's.
+	const alice = 4242
 	passwd := filepath.Join(dir, "passwd")
 	if err := os.WriteFile(passwd, fmt.Appendf(nil, "root:x:0:0::/root:/bin/sh\nalice:x:%d:%d::%s:/bin/sh\n",
-		me, os.Getgid(), home), 0o644); err != nil {
+		alice, alice, home), 0o644); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	before := passwdFile
@@ -33,14 +34,13 @@ func TestBelowAHomeOnlyThatAccountsDirectoryIsPlaced(t *testing.T) {
 	_, _, err := applyOnce(t, `{"id":"notes.data","type":"directory","path":"`+home+`/.config/autostart"}`, nil, store.State{})
 	refusedFor339(t, "root's directory below alice's home", err)
 	_, _, err = applyOnce(t, `{"id":"notes.data","type":"directory","path":"`+home+`/.config/autostart",`+
-		`"owner":"`+strconv.Itoa(me+1)+`"}`, nil, store.State{})
+		`"owner":"`+strconv.Itoa(alice+1)+`"}`, nil, store.State{})
 	refusedFor339(t, "another account's directory below alice's home", err)
 	if _, err := os.Stat(filepath.Join(home, ".config")); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a refused directory's parent was made")
 	}
-	// Alice's own is placed.
-	if _, _, err := applyOnce(t, `{"id":"notes.data","type":"directory","path":"`+home+`/.config/notes",`+
-		`"owner":"`+strconv.Itoa(me)+":"+strconv.Itoa(os.Getgid())+`"}`, nil, store.State{}); err != nil {
+	// Alice's own is placed (judged, not applied: a chown to her needs root).
+	if err := refusePath(home+"/.config/notes", placingDirectory, "notes", strconv.Itoa(alice)+":"+strconv.Itoa(alice)); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("alice's own directory: %v", err)
 	}
 	// A container mounting a refused directory is refused with it, and not run.