diff --git a/src/replication/mod.rs b/src/replication/mod.rs
index 3701c1cc..a105e0a0 100644
--- a/src/replication/mod.rs
+++ b/src/replication/mod.rs
@@ -2171,13 +2171,22 @@ impl ReplicationEngine {
     /// The only guard left standing is the per-attempt recheck inside
     /// `execute_single_fetch` — exactly the gate e2e tests use this seam to
     /// exercise.
+    ///
+    /// A replica hint for `key` that reached pending verification first is
+    /// dropped, so the key enters the fetch queue as it would have without
+    /// it. Callers host the chunk on a holder before calling this, which makes
+    /// it advertisable, and a change to the holder's closest peers starts a
+    /// neighbour-sync round at once. Left in place, the hint's entry made
+    /// `enqueue_fetch` refuse the key, and with one holder and no paid-list
+    /// entry it does not reach a quorum, so the key was not fetched that way
+    /// either. A key already in the fetch queue or in flight, or a full fetch
+    /// queue, still returns `false`.
     #[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-utils"))]
     pub async fn enqueue_fetch_for_test(&self, key: XorName, sources: Vec<PeerId>) -> bool {
         let distance = crate::client::xor_distance(&key, self.p2p_node.peer_id().as_bytes());
-        self.queues
-            .write()
-            .await
-            .enqueue_fetch(key, distance, sources)
+        let mut queues = self.queues.write().await;
+        queues.remove_pending(&key);
+        queues.enqueue_fetch(key, distance, sources)
     }
 
     /// Test-only: whether `key` is still tracked in any fetch-pipeline stage
@@ -2187,6 +2196,21 @@ impl ReplicationEngine {
         self.queues.read().await.contains_key(key)
     }
 
+    /// Test-only: whether `key` is in the fetch queue or in flight, which is
+    /// where a candidate placed by [`Self::enqueue_fetch_for_test`] stays
+    /// until it resolves.
+    ///
+    /// Such a candidate carries no verification retry metadata, so it is never
+    /// requeued for verification: once it leaves these two stages it is done.
+    /// Pending verification is left out on purpose. The chunk the test hosted
+    /// stays advertisable, so a replica hint can put the key there after the
+    /// candidate resolved, and counting that entry would hold a test's wait
+    /// loop until its deadline.
+    #[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-utils"))]
+    pub async fn fetch_queued_or_in_flight_for_test(&self, key: &XorName) -> bool {
+        self.queues.read().await.fetch_queued_or_in_flight(key)
+    }
+
     /// Test-only: place `key` into pending verification as though `hinter` had
     /// just advertised it with a replica hint. Returns whether it was admitted.
     ///
diff --git a/src/replication/scheduling.rs b/src/replication/scheduling.rs
index 9ec1239a..e296606e 100644
--- a/src/replication/scheduling.rs
+++ b/src/replication/scheduling.rs
@@ -1414,6 +1414,14 @@ impl ReplicationQueues {
             || self.in_flight_fetch.contains_key(key)
     }
 
+    /// Test-only: whether a key is in the fetch queue or in flight, leaving
+    /// pending verification out.
+    #[cfg(any(test, feature = "test-utils"))]
+    #[must_use]
+    pub fn fetch_queued_or_in_flight(&self, key: &XorName) -> bool {
+        self.fetch_payloads.contains_key(key) || self.in_flight_fetch.contains_key(key)
+    }
+
     /// Check if all bootstrap-related work is done.
     ///
     /// Returns `true` when none of the given bootstrap keys remain in any queue.
diff --git a/tests/e2e/fetch_local_write_guard.rs b/tests/e2e/fetch_local_write_guard.rs
index 3fe2b129..5fdc030d 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/fetch_local_write_guard.rs
+++ b/tests/e2e/fetch_local_write_guard.rs
@@ -198,7 +198,7 @@ async fn write_blocked_node_neither_probes_nor_dials() {
     );
 
     let deadline = tokio::time::Instant::now() + OBSERVATION_WINDOW;
-    while target_engine.fetch_pipeline_contains_for_test(&key).await {
+    while target_engine.fetch_queued_or_in_flight_for_test(&key).await {
         assert!(
             tokio::time::Instant::now() < deadline,
             "the candidate never resolved; a key stuck in the fetch pipeline \
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ async fn already_held_key_is_not_fetched_again() {
     );
     let deadline = tokio::time::Instant::now() + OBSERVATION_WINDOW;
     while target_engine
-        .fetch_pipeline_contains_for_test(&held_key)
+        .fetch_queued_or_in_flight_for_test(&held_key)
         .await
     {
         assert!(
diff --git a/tests/e2e/fetch_responsibility_recheck.rs b/tests/e2e/fetch_responsibility_recheck.rs
index 680aa6ca..ad39ac3c 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/fetch_responsibility_recheck.rs
+++ b/tests/e2e/fetch_responsibility_recheck.rs
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ async fn stale_fetch_candidate_is_declined_at_download_time() {
 
     let deadline = tokio::time::Instant::now() + OBSERVATION_WINDOW;
     while target_engine
-        .fetch_pipeline_contains_for_test(&key_out)
+        .fetch_queued_or_in_flight_for_test(&key_out)
         .await
     {
         assert!(
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ async fn stale_fetch_candidate_is_declined_at_download_time() {
     }
     let deadline = tokio::time::Instant::now() + OBSERVATION_WINDOW;
     while target_engine
-        .fetch_pipeline_contains_for_test(&key_in)
+        .fetch_queued_or_in_flight_for_test(&key_in)
         .await
     {
         assert!(