diff --git a/tests/solver/stellar_numerical_strategies.cpp b/tests/solver/stellar_numerical_strategies.cpp
index 4269b2b..ef9f8ee 100644
--- a/tests/solver/stellar_numerical_strategies.cpp
+++ b/tests/solver/stellar_numerical_strategies.cpp
@@ -111,8 +111,11 @@ namespace stellar_numerical_strategy_test {
     }
 
     [[nodiscard]] nonlinear::NewtonOptions oneAttempt() {
+        // A relative threshold of exactly ||b|| need not stop MFEM before
+        // its first iteration. Use a separated absolute threshold so this
+        // wiring test deliberately retains its zero initial correction.
         return {.relativeTolerance = 0.0, .absoluteTolerance = 0.0, .maximumIterations = 1,
-                .linearSolve = {.relativeTolerance = 1.0, .absoluteTolerance = 0.0, .maximumIterations = 1},
+                .linearSolve = {.relativeTolerance = 0.0, .absoluteTolerance = 1.e100, .maximumIterations = 1},
                 .backtracking = {.maximumTrials = 1, .geometryPreflight = false}};
     }
 
@@ -159,6 +162,8 @@ TEST_CASE("Production gravity strategies retain optional model borders and resto
             CHECK_FALSE(report.converged());
             CHECK(report.diagnostics().attemptedNonlinearIterations == 1);
             CHECK(report.diagnostics().acceptedNonlinearIterations == 0);
+            REQUIRE(report.diagnostics().lastLinearSolve.has_value());
+            CHECK(report.diagnostics().lastLinearSolve->iterations == 0);
             CHECK(report.diagnostics().numericalStrategies.gravitySolves > 0);
             CHECK(report.diagnostics().numericalStrategies.gravityFailures == 0);
             CHECK(report.lastAcceptedCheckpointView().valid());
@@ -172,6 +177,8 @@ TEST_CASE("Production gravity strategies retain optional model borders and resto
             CHECK_FALSE(report.converged());
             CHECK(report.diagnostics().attemptedNonlinearIterations == 1);
             CHECK(report.diagnostics().acceptedNonlinearIterations == 0);
+            REQUIRE(report.diagnostics().lastLinearSolve.has_value());
+            CHECK(report.diagnostics().lastLinearSolve->iterations == 0);
             CHECK(report.diagnostics().numericalStrategies.gravitySolves > 0);
             CHECK(report.diagnostics().numericalStrategies.gravityFailures == 0);
             CHECK(std::isfinite(report.diagnostics().numericalStrategies.lastLiftedRelativeTrueResidual));