diff --git a/sidecars/reddit-post/tests/reddit-post.spec.js b/sidecars/reddit-post/tests/reddit-post.spec.js
index bdd6677..f540bc6 100644
--- a/sidecars/reddit-post/tests/reddit-post.spec.js
+++ b/sidecars/reddit-post/tests/reddit-post.spec.js
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ function writeResult(result) {
 
 test.describe('reddit post', () => {
   let outcome = { success: false, error: 'Test did not complete' };
+  let outcomeFinalized = false;
 
   test.afterEach(async () => {
     writeResult(outcome);
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ test.describe('reddit post', () => {
     })) {
       if (!value) {
         outcome = { success: false, error: `Missing required environment variable: ${name}` };
+        outcomeFinalized = true;
         throw new Error(outcome.error);
       }
     }
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@ test.describe('reddit post', () => {
           success: false,
           error: 'Login did not complete — possible CAPTCHA, 2FA prompt, or invalid credentials',
         };
+        outcomeFinalized = true;
         throw new Error(outcome.error);
       }
 
@@ -75,13 +78,15 @@ test.describe('reddit post', () => {
         await page.waitForURL(/\/comments\//, { timeout: 20_000 });
       } catch {
         outcome = { success: false, error: 'Post submission did not complete — no redirect to the new post' };
+        outcomeFinalized = true;
         throw new Error(outcome.error);
       }
 
       outcome = { success: true, url: page.url() };
+      outcomeFinalized = true;
       expect(outcome.success).toBe(true);
     } catch (err) {
-      if (outcome.success !== false || !outcome.error) {
+      if (!outcomeFinalized) {
         outcome = { success: false, error: err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err) };
       }
       throw err;