diff --git a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/run/failover-observation.test.ts b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/run/failover-observation.test.ts
index 763540f9ca7..71363915b46 100644
--- a/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/run/failover-observation.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/pi-embedded-runner/run/failover-observation.test.ts
@@ -1,21 +1,31 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
 import { normalizeFailoverDecisionObservationBase } from "./failover-observation.js";
 
+function normalizeObservation(
+  overrides: Partial<Parameters<typeof normalizeFailoverDecisionObservationBase>[0]>,
+) {
+  return normalizeFailoverDecisionObservationBase({
+    stage: "assistant",
+    runId: "run:base",
+    rawError: "",
+    failoverReason: null,
+    profileFailureReason: null,
+    provider: "openai",
+    model: "mock-1",
+    profileId: "openai:p1",
+    fallbackConfigured: false,
+    timedOut: false,
+    aborted: false,
+    ...overrides,
+  });
+}
+
 describe("normalizeFailoverDecisionObservationBase", () => {
   it("fills timeout observation reasons for deadline timeouts without provider error text", () => {
     expect(
-      normalizeFailoverDecisionObservationBase({
-        stage: "assistant",
+      normalizeObservation({
         runId: "run:timeout",
-        rawError: "",
-        failoverReason: null,
-        profileFailureReason: null,
-        provider: "openai",
-        model: "mock-1",
-        profileId: "openai:p1",
-        fallbackConfigured: false,
         timedOut: true,
-        aborted: false,
       }),
     ).toMatchObject({
       failoverReason: "timeout",
@@ -26,18 +36,13 @@ describe("normalizeFailoverDecisionObservationBase", () => {
 
   it("preserves explicit failover reasons", () => {
     expect(
-      normalizeFailoverDecisionObservationBase({
-        stage: "assistant",
+      normalizeObservation({
         runId: "run:overloaded",
         rawError: '{"error":{"type":"overloaded_error"}}',
         failoverReason: "overloaded",
         profileFailureReason: "overloaded",
-        provider: "openai",
-        model: "mock-1",
-        profileId: "openai:p1",
         fallbackConfigured: true,
         timedOut: true,
-        aborted: false,
       }),
     ).toMatchObject({
       failoverReason: "overloaded",