diff --git a/src/game/engine/tests/unit/test_city_screen_p09.gd b/src/game/engine/tests/unit/test_city_screen_p09.gd
index 35510710..0de73561 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/tests/unit/test_city_screen_p09.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/tests/unit/test_city_screen_p09.gd
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ func test_assign_citizen_adds_tile_to_worked() -> void:
 		return
 
 	var city: RefCounted = CityScript.new("tiletest", [] as Array[String])
+	city.owner = 0  # set _pi so the parallel city slot resolves (else _pi=-1)
 	city.found("Tiletest", 5, 5, false, 1)
 
 	var tile: Vector2i = Vector2i(6, 5)
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ func test_unassign_citizen_removes_tile_from_worked() -> void:
 		return
 
 	var city: RefCounted = CityScript.new("tiletest2", [] as Array[String])
+	city.owner = 0  # set _pi so the parallel city slot resolves (else _pi=-1)
 	city.found("Tiletest2", 5, 5, false, 1)
 
 	var tile: Vector2i = Vector2i(6, 5)
@@ -59,6 +61,7 @@ func test_unassign_city_center_is_no_op() -> void:
 		return
 
 	var city: RefCounted = CityScript.new("centertest", [] as Array[String])
+	city.owner = 0  # set _pi so the parallel city slot resolves (else _pi=-1)
 	city.found("CenterTest", 5, 5, false, 1)
 
 	var center: Vector2i = Vector2i(5, 5)