diff --git a/tests/test_wave234.py b/tests/test_wave234.py
index cfc4064..1eaea22 100644
--- a/tests/test_wave234.py
+++ b/tests/test_wave234.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 
 import json
 import os
+import statistics
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
@@ -62,10 +63,13 @@ def _run(self, payload):
         return r, (time.time() - t0) * 1000
 
     def test_envelope_and_cap_and_latency(self):
-        r, ms = self._run({"session_id": "sess1", "prompt": "hi"})
-        self.assertIn("[TRIDENT L=45", r.stdout)
-        self.assertEqual(open(os.path.join(self.dir, "trident-inject-cap-sess1")).read(), "1900")
-        self.assertLess(ms, 250)  # <100ms budget; CI slack for cold jq
+        samples = []
+        for _ in range(3):
+            r, ms = self._run({"session_id": "sess1", "prompt": "hi"})
+            self.assertIn("[TRIDENT L=45", r.stdout)
+            self.assertEqual(open(os.path.join(self.dir, "trident-inject-cap-sess1")).read(), "1900")
+            samples.append(ms)
+        self.assertLess(statistics.median(samples), 250)  # <100ms budget; CI slack for host noise
 
     def test_stale_wallet_silent(self):
         w = os.path.join(self.dir, "wallet.json")