diff --git a/tests/e2e/quota_management/budgets/test_team_model_max_budget_e2e.py b/tests/e2e/quota_management/budgets/test_team_model_max_budget_e2e.py
index 21514fee753..d6b8bd31e60 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/quota_management/budgets/test_team_model_max_budget_e2e.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/quota_management/budgets/test_team_model_max_budget_e2e.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ pytestmark = pytest.mark.e2e
 CAPPED_MODEL = "claude-haiku-4-5"
 FREE_MODEL = "gemini-2.5-flash"
 BLOCK_DEADLINE_SECONDS = 60
+SPEND_FLUSH_SECONDS = 2
 
 
 def _call(client: BudgetClient, key: str, model: str) -> StreamingResponse:
@@ -24,12 +25,18 @@ def _call(client: BudgetClient, key: str, model: str) -> StreamingResponse:
     return result
 
 
+def _assert_team_model_block(result: StreamingResponse, team_id: str) -> None:
+    assert result.status_code == 429, f"HTTP {result.status_code} {result.body}"
+    assert team_id in result.body, result.body
+    assert f"exceeded budget for model={CAPPED_MODEL}" in result.body, result.body
+
+
 def _drive_to_team_block(client: BudgetClient, key: str, team_id: str) -> None:
     deadline = time.monotonic() + BLOCK_DEADLINE_SECONDS
     while time.monotonic() < deadline:
         result = _call(client, key, CAPPED_MODEL)
         if is_budget_block(result):
-            assert team_id in result.body, result.body
+            _assert_team_model_block(result, team_id)
             return
         time.sleep(1)
     pytest.fail(f"team model_max_budget on {CAPPED_MODEL} never enforced")
@@ -62,16 +69,19 @@ def test_team_model_cap_blocks_sibling_key(client: BudgetClient, resources: Reso
         f"sibling team key served {CAPPED_MODEL} after the team cap was exhausted: "
         f"HTTP {first.status_code} {first.body}"
     )
-    assert team_id in first.body, first.body
+    _assert_team_model_block(first, team_id)
 
-    require_successful_call(_call(client, bystander, FREE_MODEL))
+    other = _call(client, bystander, FREE_MODEL)
+    assert not is_budget_block(other), f"{FREE_MODEL} was blocked by {CAPPED_MODEL}'s team cap: {other.body}"
+    require_successful_call(other)
 
 
 # User flow (TLDR^2)
 # 1. Admin caps claude-haiku tiny on the team
 # 2. Admin issues Carol a team key with its own big claude budget
-# 3. Dave's plain team key exhausts the team cap and is refused
-# 4. Carol keeps getting claude answers on the same team
+# 3. Carol keeps getting claude answers past the team cap
+# 4. Dave's plain key still starts fresh: Carol spent none of the team cap
+# 5. Dave's own claude use then exhausts the team cap and is refused
 @pytest.mark.covers("quota_management.budget.team_model_max.key_override_wins")
 def test_key_override_exempts_from_team_cap(client: BudgetClient, resources: ResourceManager) -> None:
     team_id = client.create_team(
@@ -79,11 +89,20 @@ def test_key_override_exempts_from_team_cap(client: BudgetClient, resources: Res
         model_max_budget=model_budget(CAPPED_MODEL, 1e-6),
     )
     resources.defer(lambda: client.delete_team(team_id))
-    inherit = client.generate_key(team_id=team_id)
-    resources.defer(lambda: client.delete_key(inherit))
     override = client.generate_key(team_id=team_id, model_max_budget=model_budget(CAPPED_MODEL, 1000.0))
     resources.defer(lambda: client.delete_key(override))
-
-    _drive_to_team_block(client, inherit, team_id)
+    plain = client.generate_key(team_id=team_id)
+    resources.defer(lambda: client.delete_key(plain))
 
     require_successful_call(_call(client, override, CAPPED_MODEL))
+    time.sleep(SPEND_FLUSH_SECONDS)
+    second = _call(client, override, CAPPED_MODEL)
+    assert not is_budget_block(second), f"override key hit the team cap it should be exempt from: {second.body}"
+    require_successful_call(second)
+    time.sleep(SPEND_FLUSH_SECONDS)
+
+    fresh = _call(client, plain, CAPPED_MODEL)
+    assert not is_budget_block(fresh), f"override key's spend drove the shared team counter: {fresh.body}"
+    require_successful_call(fresh)
+
+    _drive_to_team_block(client, plain, team_id)