diff --git a/src/functional_tests/test_room_role_select.py b/src/functional_tests/test_room_role_select.py
index 701c5ff..f03624e 100644
--- a/src/functional_tests/test_room_role_select.py
+++ b/src/functional_tests/test_room_role_select.py
@@ -14,11 +14,14 @@ from apps.lyric.models import User
 
 
 def _equip_earthman_deck(user):
-    """Equip the Earthman DeckVariant so the role-select no-deck guard passes."""
-    deck = DeckVariant.objects.filter(name__icontains="Earthman").first()
-    if deck:
-        user.equipped_deck = deck
-        user.save(update_fields=["equipped_deck"])
+    # get_or_create: TransactionTestCase.flush() wipes migration-seeded DeckVariants
+    # between tests, so subsequent tests in the same run can't find it via filter().
+    deck, _ = DeckVariant.objects.get_or_create(
+        slug="earthman",
+        defaults={"name": "Earthman", "card_count": 106, "is_default": True},
+    )
+    user.equipped_deck = deck
+    user.save(update_fields=["equipped_deck"])
 
 
 def _fill_room_via_orm(room, emails):