diff --git a/internal/localapi/backup_tiers_test.go b/internal/localapi/backup_tiers_test.go
index 42db8df..3815acc 100644
--- a/internal/localapi/backup_tiers_test.go
+++ b/internal/localapi/backup_tiers_test.go
@@ -27,9 +27,15 @@ func tieredServer(t *testing.T, st *fakeStore, localSvc, pbsSvc *fakeBackups) *S
 		ListenAddr: "127.0.0.1:0",
 		Guests:     &fakeGuests{},
 		Backups:    localSvc,
-		Store:      st,
-		Storage:    fakeStorage{},
-		Tokens:     staticTokens{"A": 8200, "B": 9300},
+		Store: st,
+		// Both tier targets must be PRESENT in the storage view: since v0.102.0 a tier whose target
+		// storage is absent DEFERS. A real box has both; a fake with no targets would silently
+		// defer every tier and make these assertions vacuous.
+		Storage: fakeStorage{targets: []hub.StorageTarget{
+			{Name: "local", Type: "local"},
+			{Name: "felhom-pbs", Type: "pbs"},
+		}},
+		Tokens: staticTokens{"A": 8200, "B": 9300},
 		BackupTiers: []BackupTier{
 			{TargetID: "local", Cadence: 24 * time.Hour, Primary: true, Service: localSvc},
 			{TargetID: "felhom-pbs", Cadence: 7 * 24 * time.Hour, Service: pbsSvc},