diff --git a/worker/tests/test_upgrade_e2e.py b/worker/tests/test_upgrade_e2e.py
index 6086f65..b20f832 100644
--- a/worker/tests/test_upgrade_e2e.py
+++ b/worker/tests/test_upgrade_e2e.py
@@ -124,3 +124,7 @@ def test_already_at_cutoff_copy_is_not_replaced(conn):
     assert _job_state(conn, job_id) == "imported"
     # unchanged: still the original below-Q, already-at-cutoff copy, untouched.
     assert _library_row(conn, "John Mayer", "Continuum") == ("/m/already-hires", 3, "qobuz")
+
+    with conn.cursor() as cur:
+        cur.execute('SELECT count(*) FROM "Candidate" WHERE "jobId" = %s', (job_id,))
+        assert cur.fetchone()[0] == 0  # intake short-circuited: match stage never ran, no candidates persisted