diff --git a/nixos/tests/magnetico.nix b/nixos/tests/magnetico.nix
index 6770d32358e..e79a728b2ac 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/magnetico.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/magnetico.nix
@@ -27,12 +27,13 @@ in
       start_all()
       machine.wait_for_unit("magneticod")
       machine.wait_for_unit("magneticow")
+      machine.wait_for_open_port(${toString port})
       machine.succeed(
-          "${pkgs.curl}/bin/curl "
+          "${pkgs.curl}/bin/curl --fail "
           + "-u user:password http://localhost:${toString port}"
       )
-      assert "Unauthorised." in machine.succeed(
-          "${pkgs.curl}/bin/curl "
+      machine.fail(
+          "${pkgs.curl}/bin/curl --fail "
           + "-u user:wrongpwd http://localhost:${toString port}"
       )
       machine.shutdown()