diff --git a/apps/desktop/e2e/fixtures.ts b/apps/desktop/e2e/fixtures.ts
index 00321c7b132a..257ddda53ff0 100644
--- a/apps/desktop/e2e/fixtures.ts
+++ b/apps/desktop/e2e/fixtures.ts
@@ -398,7 +398,9 @@ export async function setupDeadBackend(): Promise<DeadBackendFixture> {
   fs.writeFileSync(
     configPath,
     `# Auto-generated by E2E test fixtures — dead provider
-model: mock-model
+model:
+  default: mock-model
+  provider: mock
 providers:
   mock:
     api: http://127.0.0.1:1/v1
@@ -598,15 +600,16 @@ export async function waitForBootFailure(page: Page, timeoutMs = 60_000): Promis
 
       const text = root.textContent ?? ''
 
-      // The boot failure overlay shows an error message + retry/repair
-      // buttons. Look for error-related text.
+      // A dead provider either produces a boot failure or falls back to the
+      // provider onboarding screen after the runtime check fails.
       return (
         text.includes('error') ||
         text.includes('Error') ||
         text.includes('failed') ||
         text.includes('Failed') ||
         text.includes('Retry') ||
-        text.includes('Repair')
+        text.includes('Repair') ||
+        text.includes("Let's get you setup")
       )
     },
     undefined,