diff --git a/src/plugins/wired-hooks-inbound-claim.test.ts b/src/plugins/wired-hooks-inbound-claim.test.ts
index f67caacba6d..eeb0664600d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/wired-hooks-inbound-claim.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/wired-hooks-inbound-claim.test.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,18 @@ function createInboundClaimForumCtx() {
   };
 }
 
+function expectFirstErrorLog(
+  logger: { error: ReturnType<typeof vi.fn> },
+  expected: readonly unknown[],
+): void {
+  expect(logger.error).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  const call = logger.error.mock.calls.at(0);
+  if (!call) {
+    throw new Error("expected logger.error call");
+  }
+  expect(call).toEqual(expected);
+}
+
 describe("inbound_claim hook runner", () => {
   it("stops at the first handler that claims the event", async () => {
     const first = vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ handled: true });
@@ -81,10 +93,7 @@ describe("inbound_claim hook runner", () => {
     );
 
     expect(result).toEqual({ handled: true });
-    expect(logger.error).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-    expect(logger.error.mock.calls[0]).toEqual([
-      "[hooks] inbound_claim handler from test-plugin failed: boom",
-    ]);
+    expectFirstErrorLog(logger, ["[hooks] inbound_claim handler from test-plugin failed: boom"]);
     expect(succeeding).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
   });
 
@@ -194,8 +203,7 @@ describe("inbound_claim hook runner", () => {
       await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(5);
 
       await expect(run).resolves.toEqual({ status: "error", error: "timed out after 5ms" });
-      expect(logger.error).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
-      expect(logger.error.mock.calls[0]).toEqual([
+      expectFirstErrorLog(logger, [
         "[hooks] inbound_claim handler from test-plugin failed: timed out after 5ms",
       ]);
     } finally {