diff --git a/pkg/agent/steering_test.go b/pkg/agent/steering_test.go
index f9cae38da..e8cdb2344 100644
--- a/pkg/agent/steering_test.go
+++ b/pkg/agent/steering_test.go
@@ -202,9 +202,19 @@ func TestParseSteeringMode(t *testing.T) {
 // --- AgentLoop steering integration tests ---
 
 func TestAgentLoop_Steer_Enqueues(t *testing.T) {
-	al, _, _, _, cleanup := newTestAgentLoop(t)
+	al, cfg, msgBus, provider, cleanup := newTestAgentLoop(t)
 	defer cleanup()
 
+	if cfg == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected config to be initialized")
+	}
+	if msgBus == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected message bus to be initialized")
+	}
+	if provider == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected provider to be initialized")
+	}
+
 	al.Steer(providers.Message{Role: "user", Content: "interrupt me"})
 
 	if al.steering.len() != 1 {
@@ -218,9 +228,19 @@ func TestAgentLoop_Steer_Enqueues(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestAgentLoop_SteeringMode_GetSet(t *testing.T) {
-	al, _, _, _, cleanup := newTestAgentLoop(t)
+	al, cfg, msgBus, provider, cleanup := newTestAgentLoop(t)
 	defer cleanup()
 
+	if cfg == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected config to be initialized")
+	}
+	if msgBus == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected message bus to be initialized")
+	}
+	if provider == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected provider to be initialized")
+	}
+
 	if al.SteeringMode() != SteeringOneAtATime {
 		t.Fatalf("expected default mode one-at-a-time, got %v", al.SteeringMode())
 	}
@@ -260,9 +280,19 @@ func TestAgentLoop_SteeringMode_ConfiguredFromConfig(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestAgentLoop_Continue_NoMessages(t *testing.T) {
-	al, _, _, _, cleanup := newTestAgentLoop(t)
+	al, cfg, msgBus, provider, cleanup := newTestAgentLoop(t)
 	defer cleanup()
 
+	if cfg == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected config to be initialized")
+	}
+	if msgBus == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected message bus to be initialized")
+	}
+	if provider == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected provider to be initialized")
+	}
+
 	resp, err := al.Continue(context.Background(), "test-session", "test", "chat1")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)