diff --git a/tests/test_flow.py b/tests/test_flow.py
index 5454baa..1f137db 100644
--- a/tests/test_flow.py
+++ b/tests/test_flow.py
@@ -389,8 +389,18 @@ def test_a_damaged_bench_registry_says_so_rather_than_rendering_empty(tmp_path):
 
 
 def test_a_row_previews_four_images_keeps_blur_and_counts_flags(tmp_path):
-    """The originals shown small (no generated thumbnail), the first four in
-    item order, a blurred one still blurred. The flag count is on the row."""
+    """The first four in item order, a blurred one still blurred, the flag
+    count on the row.
+
+    ⚠ THE SOURCE CHANGED AFTER R2 AND THE ASSERTION MOVED WITH IT. This
+    originally read "the originals shown small (no generated thumbnail)", which
+    was true when written and is what the operator rejected: the strip is four
+    images per booth on the page he opens first, and on the live set that was
+    the heaviest surface in the service. The strip now asks for `?thumb=1`.
+
+    The URL carries `?thumb=1` from the extension alone, without a disk read —
+    so a tiny stub like this fixture still gets the parameter, and the route
+    simply serves the original when there is nothing worth generating."""
     from booth.app import set_blurred
     b = _booth(tmp_path, "g", {f"{n}.png": PNG for n in "abcde"})
     set_blurred(b, "b.png", True)
@@ -399,7 +409,8 @@ def test_a_row_previews_four_images_keeps_blur_and_counts_flags(tmp_path):
     body = _client(tmp_path).get("/").text
     row = re.search(r'<article class="desk-row[^"]*" data-booth="g".*?</article>', body, re.S).group(0)
     imgs = re.findall(r'<img class="([^"]*)" loading="lazy" src="/b/g/([^"]+)"', row)
-    assert imgs == [("", "a.png"), ("blurred-thumb", "b.png"), ("", "c.png"), ("", "d.png")]
+    assert imgs == [("", "a.png?thumb=1"), ("blurred-thumb", "b.png?thumb=1"),
+                    ("", "c.png?thumb=1"), ("", "d.png?thumb=1")]
     assert "2 flagged" in row