diff --git a/lab/internal/readiness/repository_test.go b/lab/internal/readiness/repository_test.go
index 8be730d..5c877c4 100644
--- a/lab/internal/readiness/repository_test.go
+++ b/lab/internal/readiness/repository_test.go
@@ -100,6 +100,10 @@ func repoFixture(t *testing.T) string {
 		}
 	}
 	run("init", "-b", "main")
+	// No background git may still write under .git when t.TempDir cleans up.
+	run("config", "gc.auto", "0")
+	run("config", "maintenance.auto", "false")
+	run("config", "core.fsmonitor", "false")
 	run("config", "user.email", "test@example.com")
 	run("config", "user.name", "Fixture")
 	for p, s := range map[string]string{"lab/go.mod": "module test\n\ngo 1.27.0\n", "lab/a.go": "package test\n", "README.md": "# Test\n", ".github/workflows/test.yml": "name: checks\n", ".env": "SECRET=do-not-collect\n"} {
diff --git a/lab/plugins/gitlab/fakegitlab_test.go b/lab/plugins/gitlab/fakegitlab_test.go
index e1d8f7f..a6dbc91 100644
--- a/lab/plugins/gitlab/fakegitlab_test.go
+++ b/lab/plugins/gitlab/fakegitlab_test.go
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ type fakeGitLab struct {
 	hang       bool
 	bigPage    bool
 	// postFault creates the merge request a POST asks for, then loses the
-	// answer: "hang" never answers, "malformed" and "oversized" send a body
-	// the plugin refuses.
+	// answer: "drop" closes the connection without answering, "malformed" and
+	// "oversized" send a body the plugin refuses.
 	postFault   string
 	release     chan struct{}
 	requests    []seenRequest
@@ -190,8 +190,15 @@ func (f *fakeGitLab) serve(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	}
 	f.mu.Unlock()
 	switch fault {
-	case "hang":
-		hang = true
+	case "drop":
+		// The merge request is recorded above, so closing here loses only the
+		// answer, with no timing involved.
+		conn, _, err := http.NewResponseController(w).Hijack()
+		if err != nil {
+			panic(err)
+		}
+		conn.Close()
+		return
 	case "malformed":
 		w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "application/json")
 		w.WriteHeader(http.StatusCreated)
diff --git a/lab/plugins/gitlab/tools_test.go b/lab/plugins/gitlab/tools_test.go
index ebc83d6..afbad17 100644
--- a/lab/plugins/gitlab/tools_test.go
+++ b/lab/plugins/gitlab/tools_test.go
@@ -273,15 +273,12 @@ func TestPublishDraftRefusesABlankTitle(t *testing.T) {
 // reported even when the create answer is lost.
 func TestPublishDraftRecoversALostAnswer(t *testing.T) {
 	args := map[string]any{"project": "example/project", "headBranch": "forgecell/new", "base": "main", "title": "T", "body": "", "commit": headCommit}
-	for _, fault := range []string{"hang", "malformed", "oversized"} {
+	for _, fault := range []string{"drop", "malformed", "oversized"} {
 		fake := newFakeGitLab(t)
 		cfg, err := loadConfig(lookupFrom(fake.env(t)))
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
 		}
-		if fault == "hang" {
-			cfg.timeout = 50 * time.Millisecond
-		}
 		h := &harness{fake: fake, f: &forge{c: newClient(cfg)}}
 		fake.set(func(f *fakeGitLab) { f.postFault = fault })
 		got := decoded[contract.ForgePublished](t, h, "forge_publish_draft", args)