diff --git a/crates/text/src/fontdb.rs b/crates/text/src/fontdb.rs
index bad992e51..12d27bd11 100644
--- a/crates/text/src/fontdb.rs
+++ b/crates/text/src/fontdb.rs
@@ -196,6 +196,8 @@ mod alias_tests {
     #[test]
     fn the_file_search_for_uncovered_characters_stops_at_its_budget() {
         let db = FontDb::with_font_dirs(vec![]);
+        // The first search scans the font folders, which starts the count again.
+        db.system_fallback('\u{E001}');
         db.sys.lock().unwrap().file_searches = names::MAX_FILE_SEARCHES;
         assert!(!db.system_fallback('\u{E000}'));
         let sys = db.sys.lock().unwrap();