diff --git a/tests/integration.c b/tests/integration.c
index ef2455b..f2b2c94 100644
--- a/tests/integration.c
+++ b/tests/integration.c
@@ -171,6 +171,8 @@ static int test_audio_pass_through(void) {
     printf("Test: audio pass‑through (connectivity)\n");
     pid_t pid = start_looper();
     if (pid < 0) return 1;
+    /* ensure fresh MIDI connection for this test */
+    midi_inject_close();
     jack_client_t *client;
     jack_status_t status;
     client = jack_client_open("test_passthrough", JackNoStartServer, &status);
@@ -297,6 +299,9 @@ static int test_looper_looping(void) {
     pid_t pid = start_looper();
     if (pid < 0) return 1;
 
+    /* ensure fresh MIDI connection for this test */
+    midi_inject_close();
+
     jack_client_t *client;
     jack_status_t status;
     client = jack_client_open("test_looping", JackNoStartServer, &status);
@@ -897,6 +902,8 @@ static int test_wav_load(void) {
     }
     pid_t pid = start_looper();
     if (pid < 0) { unlink("loop.wav"); return 1; }
+    /* ensure fresh MIDI connection for this test */
+    midi_inject_close();
     jack_client_t *client;
     jack_status_t status;
     client = jack_client_open("test_wav_load", JackNoStartServer, &status);
@@ -944,8 +951,6 @@ static int test_wav_load(void) {
         unlink("loop.wav");
         return 1;
     }
-    /* force a fresh MIDI connection for this test */
-    midi_inject_close();
     /* send control key + note 70 to trigger load */
     if (send_jack_note_on("looper:control", 64, 127) != 0) {
         jack_deactivate(client);
@@ -1045,8 +1050,6 @@ static int test_wav_save(void) {
         return 1;
     }
     safe_usleep(500000);
-    /* force a fresh MIDI connection for this test */
-    midi_inject_close();
     /* send control key + note 71 to save */
     if (send_jack_note_on("looper:control", 64, 127) != 0) {
         jack_deactivate(client);