diff --git a/tests/test_ncd_faults.c b/tests/test_ncd_faults.c
index 5c294362..d3f504a1 100644
--- a/tests/test_ncd_faults.c
+++ b/tests/test_ncd_faults.c
@@ -339,7 +339,9 @@ static void close_during_send(struct ll_queue* queue, void* arg) { (void)queue;
 static void synchronous_close(void) {
     setup(); struct ETCP_CONN* conn = connection(1); struct NODE_CONN_DIRECT* handle = NULL;
     CHECK(node_conn_direct_open(inst, 42, NULL, NULL, &handle, NULL) == NCD_REUSED);
+    queue_clear(conn->send_input_q); queue_set_callback_defer(conn->send_input_q, 0);
     queue_set_callback(conn->send_input_q, close_during_send, conn);
+    queue_resume_callback(conn->send_input_q);
     node_conn_direct_close(handle);
     uasync_drain_immediate(ua); CHECK(!inst->ncd_registry && !inst->connections->count);
     teardown();