diff --git a/tests/test_visual_sim_gui_ux.py b/tests/test_visual_sim_gui_ux.py
index 44b8360d..0454ff4e 100644
--- a/tests/test_visual_sim_gui_ux.py
+++ b/tests/test_visual_sim_gui_ux.py
@@ -37,9 +37,14 @@ def test_gui_ux_event_routing(live_gui) -> None:
   'tier_usage': usage,
   'tickets': []
  })
- time.sleep(2)
- 
- status = client.get_mma_status()
+ # Poll until the new status lands. Without this, a prior test's stale
+ # mma_state_update is still in flight and overwrites our 'simulating'.
+ for _ in range(40):
+  status = client.get_mma_status()
+  if status.get('mma_status') == 'simulating':
+   break
+  time.sleep(0.25)
+
  assert status.get('mma_status') == 'simulating', f"Expected 'simulating', got '{status.get('mma_status')}'"
  assert status.get('tier_usage', {}).get('Tier 1', {}).get('input') == 10
  print("[SIM] Global state update verified.")