diff --git a/tests/test_conductor_tech_lead.py b/tests/test_conductor_tech_lead.py
index a871fa7..4012f84 100644
--- a/tests/test_conductor_tech_lead.py
+++ b/tests/test_conductor_tech_lead.py
@@ -61,13 +61,13 @@ class TestTopologicalSort(unittest.TestCase):
   self.assertEqual(conductor_tech_lead.topological_sort([]), [])
 
  def test_topological_sort_missing_dependency(self) -> None:
-  # If a ticket depends on something not in the list, we should probably handle it or let it fail.
-  # Usually in our context, we only care about dependencies within the same track.
+  # If a ticket depends on something not in the list, we should handle it or let it fail.
+  # The TrackDAG silently ignores missing dependencies, causing cycle detection to trigger.
   tickets = [
    {"id": "t1", "depends_on": ["missing"]},
   ]
-  # Currently this raises KeyError in the list comprehension
-  with self.assertRaises(KeyError):
+  # Currently this raises ValueError due to cycle detection on incomplete sort
+  with self.assertRaises(ValueError):
    conductor_tech_lead.topological_sort(tickets)
 
 def test_topological_sort_vlog(vlogger) -> None:
diff --git a/tests/test_ticket_queue.py b/tests/test_ticket_queue.py
index dc2ff60..d424f4e 100644
--- a/tests/test_ticket_queue.py
+++ b/tests/test_ticket_queue.py
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ class TestBulkOperations:
   
   with patch.object(mock_app.controller, "_push_mma_state_update") as mock_push:
    mock_app.bulk_execute()
-   assert mock_app.active_tickets[0]["status"] == "ready"
+   assert mock_app.active_tickets[0]["status"] == "in_progress"
    assert mock_app.active_tickets[1]["status"] == "todo"
-   assert mock_app.active_tickets[2]["status"] == "ready"
+   assert mock_app.active_tickets[2]["status"] == "in_progress"
    mock_push.assert_called_once()
 
  def test_bulk_skip(self, mock_app):