diff --git a/steamcache/steamcache_test.go b/steamcache/steamcache_test.go
index f2c7e1e..13b5b4d 100644
--- a/steamcache/steamcache_test.go
+++ b/steamcache/steamcache_test.go
@@ -1040,13 +1040,21 @@ func TestP1_03_EvictionAlgorithmsDistinct(t *testing.T) {
 // TestDiskOnlyDelayedAttach covers pure disk-only mode (mem=0 + disk>0) hitting the exact delayed attach path.
 // During init window (pre Size barrier), TieredCache has no slow tier so Create returns ErrNotFound (proxy semantics, no disk caching).
 // Post-barrier + attach, Create succeeds. Uses real temp dir.
+// An init hold keeps the empty-dir attach from finishing before the pending assertions (CI race).
 func TestDiskOnlyDelayedAttach(t *testing.T) {
-	t.Parallel()
 	td := t.TempDir()
 	diskPath := filepath.Join(td, "disk")
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(diskPath, 0755); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	hold := make(chan struct{})
+	var holdOnce sync.Once
+	closeHold := func() { holdOnce.Do(func() { close(hold) }) }
+	disk.RegisterInitHold(diskPath, hold)
+	t.Cleanup(func() {
+		closeHold()
+		disk.ClearInitHold(diskPath)
+	})
 
 	// mem=0, disk>0 -> pure disk delayed path (go func)
 	sc, err := New("localhost:0", "0", "10MB", diskPath, "", "lru", "lru", 10, 1, "0", nil)
@@ -1054,6 +1062,7 @@ func TestDiskOnlyDelayedAttach(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("New disk-only: %v", err)
 	}
 	t.Cleanup(func() { sc.Shutdown() })
+	t.Cleanup(closeHold) // before Shutdown: attach is blocked in Size() until the hold closes
 
 	// Immediately in window: no slow tier attached yet -> Create must ErrNotFound (proxy, no disk write)
 	_, err = sc.vfs.Create("during-init-key", 100)
@@ -1067,6 +1076,7 @@ func TestDiskOnlyDelayedAttach(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("during pending attach, DiskTierReady=%d, want 0", got)
 	}
 
+	closeHold()
 	// Wait the barrier (exercises the attach go's Size wait)
 	_ = sc.disk.Size()