diff --git a/tests/e2e/Actions/FeedMemoryTests.cs b/tests/e2e/Actions/FeedMemoryTests.cs
index 088f0e1..540ab56 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/Actions/FeedMemoryTests.cs
+++ b/tests/e2e/Actions/FeedMemoryTests.cs
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@ namespace decePubClient.E2E.Actions
 			var persona = Pasture.Personas().First();
 			await using var session = await SignIn.As(browser, persona);
 			var page = session.Page;
+			// a deletion the stream tells (late federated Deletes from the tests before) takes its post out at once
+			var deletions = 0;
+			page.WebSocket += (_, socket) => socket.FrameReceived += (_, frame) =>
+			{
+				if (frame.Text?.Contains("\"event\":\"delete\"") == true)
+					Interlocked.Increment(ref deletions);
+			};
 			await Results.Cell("client.action.feed-memory", "privapub", persona.UserName, async () =>
 			{
 				await page.GotoAsync($"{Pasture.Site}/");
@@ -25,6 +32,7 @@ namespace decePubClient.E2E.Actions
 				await page.EvalOnSelectorAsync("#feed-scroll", "root => root.scrollTop = root.scrollHeight");
 				await Pasture.Eventually(async () => int.Parse(await feed.GetAttributeAsync("data-feed-count") ?? "0") > 20, 10);
 				var count = int.Parse(await feed.GetAttributeAsync("data-feed-count") ?? "0");
+				var deletedBefore = Volatile.Read(ref deletions);
 
 				var homeReads = 0;
 				page.Request += (_, request) =>
@@ -38,7 +46,9 @@ namespace decePubClient.E2E.Actions
 				await page.GoBackAsync();
 				await page.Locator("article[data-uri]").First.WaitForAsync(new() { Timeout = 10000 });
 
-				Assert.True(int.Parse(await feed.GetAttributeAsync("data-feed-count") ?? "0") >= count, "the feed came back shorter than it was left");
+				var back = int.Parse(await feed.GetAttributeAsync("data-feed-count") ?? "0");
+				var deleted = Volatile.Read(ref deletions) - deletedBefore;
+				Assert.True(back >= count - deleted, $"the feed came back with {back} posts, left with {count} ({deleted} deleted meanwhile)");
 				Assert.Equal(0, homeReads);
 				await session.AssertGuards();
 			}, page);