diff --git a/tests/tools/test_mcp_parked_self_probe.py b/tests/tools/test_mcp_parked_self_probe.py
index e67177c2cd..61a1a6578e 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_mcp_parked_self_probe.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_mcp_parked_self_probe.py
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ def test_parked_server_self_probes_and_revives(monkeypatch, tmp_path):
                     # First connect succeeds (sets _ready), then dies.
                     self.session = object()
                     self._ready.set()
+                    self._ever_connected = True
                     self.session = None
                     raise RuntimeError("backend outage begins")
                 if not state["backend_up"]:
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_mcp_reconnect_log_hygiene.py b/tests/tools/test_mcp_reconnect_log_hygiene.py
index cd6a842cbf..6c180709b4 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_mcp_reconnect_log_hygiene.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_mcp_reconnect_log_hygiene.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ def test_retry_attempts_log_debug_transitions_warn(monkeypatch, tmp_path, caplog
                 if state["transport_calls"] == 1:
                     self.session = object()
                     self._ready.set()
+                    self._ever_connected = True
                     self.session = None
                 raise ConnectionError("backend down")
 
diff --git a/tests/tools/test_mcp_reconnect_retry_reset.py b/tests/tools/test_mcp_reconnect_retry_reset.py
index 0bef5ca7f5..60f26f0266 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_mcp_reconnect_retry_reset.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_mcp_reconnect_retry_reset.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ def test_reconnect_counter_resets_after_successful_session(monkeypatch, tmp_path
                     # First connect: succeed (sets _ready), then fail.
                     self.session = object()
                     self._ready.set()
+                    self._ever_connected = True
                     self.session = None
                     raise RuntimeError("blip 1")