diff --git a/tests/tools/test_tour_tool.py b/tests/tools/test_tour_tool.py
index c0d946fcd0..7435299b50 100644
--- a/tests/tools/test_tour_tool.py
+++ b/tests/tools/test_tour_tool.py
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ def test_show_needs_something_to_point_at_or_say():
 
 
 def test_start_validates_its_steps():
-    assert "non-empty steps" in _run(action="start")["error"]
+    # No steps is the app's built-in tour; it exists only on the app surface.
+    assert "error" not in _run(action="start")
+    assert "surface='app'" in _run(action="start", surface="preview")["error"]
     assert "non-empty steps" in _run(action="start", steps=[])["error"]
     assert "steps[1] must be an object" in _run(action="start", steps=[{"selector": "#a"}, "nope"])["error"]
     assert "steps[1] needs" in _run(action="start", steps=[{"selector": "#a"}, {}])["error"]