diff --git a/packages/testing/playwright/tests/e2e/instance-ai/instance-ai-remediation-guard.spec.ts b/packages/testing/playwright/tests/e2e/instance-ai/instance-ai-remediation-guard.spec.ts
index e6dc1b227ef..168b9ad7f99 100644
--- a/packages/testing/playwright/tests/e2e/instance-ai/instance-ai-remediation-guard.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/testing/playwright/tests/e2e/instance-ai/instance-ai-remediation-guard.spec.ts
@@ -253,10 +253,15 @@ test.describe(
 						'When the build result reports that setup is required before verification, open the workflow setup card with workflows(action="setup") and stop editing.',
 				);
 
-				await expect(n8n.instanceAi.workflowSetup.getCard()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 540_000 });
+				// The skill-opening narration is surfaced transiently in the thinking
+				// trace while the orchestrator loads the workflow-builder skill, then
+				// collapses once the build completes. Assert it while the run is still
+				// in progress — before awaiting the terminal setup card.
 				await expect(
 					n8n.instanceAi.getAssistantMessageText('Opening skill: workflow-builder'),
-				).toBeVisible();
+				).toBeVisible({ timeout: 540_000 });
+
+				await expect(n8n.instanceAi.workflowSetup.getCard()).toBeVisible({ timeout: 540_000 });
 				await expect(n8n.instanceAi.getAssistantMessageText(TERMINAL_FALLBACK_TEXT)).toHaveCount(0);
 
 				const events = getLatestRecordingEvents(await getTraceEvents(api, testInfo));