diff --git a/test/test-core.lisp b/test/test-core.lisp
index c2f81dd..c505421 100644
--- a/test/test-core.lisp
+++ b/test/test-core.lisp
@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
       (push (format nil "unexpected: ~s" msg)
             (t:errors t:*test-suite*)))))
 
+(defun expect (ctx msg)
+  (setf (gethash (message:head msg) (expected ctx)) (message:data msg)))
+
 ;;;; test runner
 
 (defclass test-suite (t:test-suite)
@@ -47,6 +50,7 @@
   (let ((rcvr (receiver t:*test-suite*))
         (msg (message:simple-message :test :dummy)))
     (setf (message:data msg) "dummy payload")
+    (expect rcvr msg)
     (== (core:name rcvr) :test-rcvr)
     (core:send rcvr msg)
     ))