diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/font_menu/tests.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/font_menu/tests.rs
index a054794379..259408711c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/font_menu/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/font_menu/tests.rs
@@ -21,12 +21,13 @@ fn the_thai_filter_lists_fonts_with_thai() {
 /// stay clear of it.
 #[test]
 fn the_scroll_bar_leaves_the_stars_clear() {
-    // Every family starred, so each row draws its star.
+    // Every family starred, so each row draws its star. Tests running alongside add fonts and
+    // composite fonts to the process-wide database, which the menu lists too: the ★ filter keeps
+    // the rows to the families starred here.
     let all = vectorcraft_text::FontDb::global().families();
-    let families = all.len();
     let ctx = egui::Context::default();
     let area = egui::Rect::from_min_size(egui::pos2(0.0, 0.0), egui::vec2(300.0, 160.0));
-    let mut st = super::MenuState::default();
+    let mut st = super::MenuState { favorites_only: true, ..Default::default() };
     let look = super::MenuLook { samples: false, favorites: &all, ..Default::default() };
     let mut stars = vec![];
     for _ in 0..3 {
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ fn the_scroll_bar_leaves_the_stars_clear() {
             })
             .collect();
     }
+    let families = st.rows.len();
     assert!(!stars.is_empty() || families == 0, "{families} families, no row stars drawn");
     // The rows don't fill the list without enough families to scroll, and then there is no bar.
     if families as f32 * look.row > area.height() {
@@ -62,6 +64,13 @@ fn family(name: &str) -> Row {
     Row::Family(name.to_string())
 }
 
+/// The families the font menu lists that stay listed, in its order: the menu's list without the
+/// composite fonts at its top, which tests running alongside define and remove in the process-wide
+/// database.
+fn lasting_families() -> Vec<String> {
+    vectorcraft_text::FontDb::global().family_list().iter().filter(|f| !f.starts_with('.')).cloned().collect()
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn recent_fonts_are_first_available_unique_and_expandable() {
     let names: Vec<_> = ["Alpha", "Bravo", "Charlie"].map(str::to_string).into();
@@ -86,7 +95,7 @@ fn recent_fonts_are_first_available_unique_and_expandable() {
 
 #[test]
 fn recent_section_rebuilds_and_arrows_skip_its_headings() {
-    let names = vectorcraft_text::FontDb::global().menu_family_list();
+    let names = lasting_families();
     if names.len() < 3 {
         return;
     }
@@ -135,7 +144,7 @@ fn recent_section_rebuilds_and_arrows_skip_its_headings() {
 
 #[test]
 fn recent_fonts_obey_search_and_favorite_filters() {
-    let names = vectorcraft_text::FontDb::global().menu_family_list();
+    let names = lasting_families();
     if names.len() < 3 {
         return;
     }
@@ -176,7 +185,7 @@ fn recent_fonts_obey_search_and_favorite_filters() {
 
 #[test]
 fn opening_on_another_font_keeps_the_recent_section_visible() {
-    let names = vectorcraft_text::FontDb::global().menu_family_list();
+    let names = lasting_families();
     let Some(current) = names.last() else { return };
     let recent = vec![names[0].clone()];
     let ctx = egui::Context::default();
@@ -244,7 +253,7 @@ fn the_wheel_steps_one_family_per_notch_and_stops_at_the_ends() {
 /// others in the database's order, under the favourites (and other) filters.
 #[test]
 fn the_wheel_follows_the_menus_order_and_filters() {
-    let names = vectorcraft_text::FontDb::global().menu_family_list();
+    let names = lasting_families();
     if names.len() < 3 {
         return;
     }
@@ -770,8 +779,9 @@ fn the_variable_filter_lists_only_variable_families() {
     assert_eq!(frame(&mut st, vec![], &favorites).0, [TWO_AXIS_FAMILY]);
     st.favorites_only = false;
     // Off again: every family is listed.
+    let lasting = lasting_families();
     let again = click(&mut st, &favorites);
     assert!(!st.variable_only);
-    assert_eq!(again, frame(&mut st, vec![], &[]).0);
+    assert!(lasting.iter().all(|f| has(&again, f)), "{again:?}");
     assert!(has(&again, TWO_AXIS_FAMILY) && has(&again, "Source Sans 3") && has(&again, "JetBrains Mono"), "{again:?}");
 }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/tests/nativemenu.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/tests/nativemenu.rs
index 65bd01999d..689ae8a60c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/tests/nativemenu.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/tests/nativemenu.rs
@@ -683,48 +683,51 @@ fn the_app_bar_hides_its_menus_with_the_mac_menu_bar() {
 /// answers, the menus are as before and work again.
 #[test]
 fn the_menu_bar_is_inert_while_a_file_dialog_is_open() {
-    let mut m = Mac::new(true);
-    m.app.services.dialogs_are_sheets = true;
-    let (shown, _) = crate::tests_picks::off_the_ui_thread(&mut m.app.services);
-    m.app.run("shape.rectangle", json!({"x": 200, "y": 150, "width": 20, "height": 20})).unwrap();
-    m.app.run("select.none", json!({})).unwrap();
-    m.frame(vec![]);
     let rows = |bar: &MenuBar| bar.items().iter().map(|it| (it.command, it.params.clone(), it.enabled)).collect::<Vec<_>>();
-    let before = m.fake.last();
-    let system = [native_menu::HIDE, native_menu::HIDE_OTHERS, native_menu::MINIMIZE];
-    assert!(system.iter().all(|c| find(&before, c).enabled));
-    assert!(m.app.run("file.open", json!({})).is_err());
-    assert!(m.app.file_dialog_open());
-    m.frame(vec![]);
-    let inert = m.fake.last();
-    for it in inert.items() {
-        let kept = it.command.is_some_and(|c| system.contains(&c));
-        assert_eq!(it.enabled, kept, "{:?} {} while the dialog is open", it.command, it.label);
-    }
-    // A click that raced the menu going inert isn't run; Minimize is.
-    let rulers = (m.app.ui.view.rulers, find(&before, "view.rulers").clone());
-    m.fake.report(native_menu::Event::Click(rulers.1.clone()));
-    m.frame(vec![]);
-    assert_eq!(m.app.ui.view.rulers, rulers.0);
-    m.fake.report(native_menu::Event::Click(find(&inert, native_menu::MINIMIZE).clone()));
-    assert!(m.frame(vec![]).viewport_output[&egui::ViewportId::ROOT].commands.contains(&egui::ViewportCommand::Minimized(true)));
-    // A key equivalent that raced it doesn't reach egui.
-    let mut k = crate::shortcuts::parse("Cmd+A").unwrap();
-    k.modifiers.mac_cmd = k.modifiers.command;
-    m.fake.report(native_menu::Event::Key(k));
-    let mut raw = egui::RawInput::default();
-    m.app.raw_input_hook(&m.ctx, &mut raw);
-    assert!(!raw.events.iter().any(|e| matches!(e, Event::Key { .. })), "{:?}", raw.events);
-    m.key_equivalent("Cmd+A");
-    assert_eq!(m.selected(), 0, "⌘A selected nothing");
-    // Cancelled: the menus are as before, and work again.
-    shown.answer(&[]);
-    m.frame(vec![]);
-    m.frame(vec![]);
-    assert!(!m.app.file_dialog_open());
-    // Every row from before is back as it was (tests running alongside may add plug-in rows).
-    let after = rows(&m.fake.last());
-    assert!(rows(&before).iter().all(|r| after.contains(r)), "the menus are as before");
+    // The menus read before the dialog and after it are compared, so the whole run is undisturbed:
+    // a test running alongside can add or remove a composite font or a plug-in in between.
+    let (mut m, (before, after, rulers)) = undisturbed(|m| {
+        m.app.services.dialogs_are_sheets = true;
+        let (shown, _) = crate::tests_picks::off_the_ui_thread(&mut m.app.services);
+        m.app.run("shape.rectangle", json!({"x": 200, "y": 150, "width": 20, "height": 20})).unwrap();
+        m.app.run("select.none", json!({})).unwrap();
+        m.frame(vec![]);
+        let before = m.fake.last();
+        let system = [native_menu::HIDE, native_menu::HIDE_OTHERS, native_menu::MINIMIZE];
+        assert!(system.iter().all(|c| find(&before, c).enabled));
+        assert!(m.app.run("file.open", json!({})).is_err());
+        assert!(m.app.file_dialog_open());
+        m.frame(vec![]);
+        let inert = m.fake.last();
+        for it in inert.items() {
+            let kept = it.command.is_some_and(|c| system.contains(&c));
+            assert_eq!(it.enabled, kept, "{:?} {} while the dialog is open", it.command, it.label);
+        }
+        // A click that raced the menu going inert isn't run; Minimize is.
+        let rulers = (m.app.ui.view.rulers, find(&before, "view.rulers").clone());
+        m.fake.report(native_menu::Event::Click(rulers.1.clone()));
+        m.frame(vec![]);
+        assert_eq!(m.app.ui.view.rulers, rulers.0);
+        m.fake.report(native_menu::Event::Click(find(&inert, native_menu::MINIMIZE).clone()));
+        assert!(m.frame(vec![]).viewport_output[&egui::ViewportId::ROOT].commands.contains(&egui::ViewportCommand::Minimized(true)));
+        // A key equivalent that raced it doesn't reach egui.
+        let mut k = crate::shortcuts::parse("Cmd+A").unwrap();
+        k.modifiers.mac_cmd = k.modifiers.command;
+        m.fake.report(native_menu::Event::Key(k));
+        let mut raw = egui::RawInput::default();
+        m.app.raw_input_hook(&m.ctx, &mut raw);
+        assert!(!raw.events.iter().any(|e| matches!(e, Event::Key { .. })), "{:?}", raw.events);
+        m.key_equivalent("Cmd+A");
+        assert_eq!(m.selected(), 0, "⌘A selected nothing");
+        // Cancelled: the menus are as before, and work again.
+        shown.answer(&[]);
+        m.frame(vec![]);
+        m.frame(vec![]);
+        assert!(!m.app.file_dialog_open());
+        (rows(&before), rows(&m.fake.last()), rulers)
+    });
+    // Every row from before is back as it was.
+    assert!(before.iter().all(|r| after.contains(r)), "the menus are as before");
     m.fake.report(native_menu::Event::Click(rulers.1));
     m.frame(vec![]);
     assert_eq!(m.app.ui.view.rulers, !rulers.0);