diff --git a/src/functional_tests/test_billboard.py b/src/functional_tests/test_billboard.py
index dc55353..c42d46c 100644
--- a/src/functional_tests/test_billboard.py
+++ b/src/functional_tests/test_billboard.py
@@ -391,12 +391,18 @@ class BillscrollEntryLayoutTest(FunctionalTest):
         super().setUp()
         self.founder = User.objects.create(email="founder@layout.io")
         self.room = Room.objects.create(name="Layout Chamber", owner=self.founder)
-        # A fresh (< 24 h) event — timestamp is auto_now_add so always recent
-        record(
+        # A "recent" event in the 1h–24h clock-time bucket (g:i a). Backdated 3h
+        # because the shared relative_ts now renders <60min as "N min" (a02f347)
+        # — a just-now auto_now_add event would show "N min", not the clock time
+        # this layout test asserts. Still recent vs. the >1yr old event below.
+        recent = record(
             self.room, GameEvent.SLOT_FILLED, actor=self.founder,
             slot_number=1, token_type="coin",
             token_display="Fresh Coin", renewal_days=7,
         )
+        GameEvent.objects.filter(pk=recent.pk).update(
+            timestamp=timezone.now() - datetime.timedelta(hours=3)
+        )
         # An old (> 1 year) event — backdate via queryset update to bypass auto_now_add
         old = record(
             self.room, GameEvent.SLOT_FILLED, actor=self.founder,