diff --git a/test/brain-sync.test.ts b/test/brain-sync.test.ts
index 6ba8e95c..6d992230 100644
--- a/test/brain-sync.test.ts
+++ b/test/brain-sync.test.ts
@@ -97,11 +97,26 @@ describe('gstack-config gbrain keys', () => {
   });
 
   test('GSTACK_HOME overrides real config dir', () => {
-    run(['gstack-config', 'set', 'gbrain_sync_mode', 'full']);
-    // Real ~/.gstack/config.yaml must NOT have been touched.
+    // Snapshot the real config's mtime + content BEFORE we run the command.
+    // Comparing snapshots beats checking final content: the real config may
+    // already contain "gbrain_sync_mode: full" from prior real usage, which
+    // would create a false positive. We're testing that the command did NOT
+    // modify the real file, not that the real file lacks any specific value.
     const realConfig = path.join(os.homedir(), '.gstack', 'config.yaml');
-    const real = fs.existsSync(realConfig) ? fs.readFileSync(realConfig, 'utf-8') : '';
-    expect(real).not.toContain('gbrain_sync_mode: full');
+    const before = fs.existsSync(realConfig)
+      ? { mtime: fs.statSync(realConfig).mtimeMs, content: fs.readFileSync(realConfig, 'utf-8') }
+      : null;
+    run(['gstack-config', 'set', 'gbrain_sync_mode', 'full']);
+    if (before) {
+      const after = fs.statSync(realConfig);
+      expect(after.mtimeMs).toBe(before.mtime);
+      expect(fs.readFileSync(realConfig, 'utf-8')).toBe(before.content);
+    } else {
+      expect(fs.existsSync(realConfig)).toBe(false);
+    }
+    // The tmpHome config DID get written.
+    const tmpConfig = fs.readFileSync(path.join(tmpHome, 'config.yaml'), 'utf-8');
+    expect(tmpConfig).toContain('gbrain_sync_mode: full');
   });
 });