diff --git a/tests/unit/test_refined_dfg.py b/tests/unit/test_refined_dfg.py
index 433b550..0d22323 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_refined_dfg.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_refined_dfg.py
@@ -164,26 +164,11 @@ def frozen_manifest(observation_mode):
 
 
 def selected_manifest(collision, observation_mode):
-    """verify_source's manifest selection with its working-tree hash comparison neutralised.
+    """The frozen manifest verify_source selects for (collision, observation_mode).
 
-    Source identity is owned by test_source_pin; this exercises only which frozen manifest
-    verify_source selects and returns for (collision, observation_mode).
+    Source identity is owned by test_source_pin; this reads no checkout files.
     """
-    from unittest.mock import patch
-
-    class Digest(str):
-        def __ne__(self, other):
-            return False
-
-    class Hash:
-        def __init__(self, data=b""):
-            pass
-
-        def hexdigest(self):
-            return Digest()
-
-    with patch.object(r.hashlib, "sha256", Hash):
-        return r.verify_source(r.DEFAULT_SOURCE, collision, observation_mode)
+    return r.source_manifest(collision, observation_mode)
 
 
 def test_full_requires_completed_pilot():
diff --git a/tests/validation/run_refined_dfg.py b/tests/validation/run_refined_dfg.py
index b375906..9cbeb70 100644
--- a/tests/validation/run_refined_dfg.py
+++ b/tests/validation/run_refined_dfg.py
@@ -281,16 +281,21 @@ def host_geometry(source, h, collision="SRT", jet_scenario="none", placement="wi
     return cfg, pair, body, host
 
 
-def verify_source(source, collision="SRT", observation_mode="last_base_step", jet_scenario="none", observe_cv=False):
+def source_manifest(collision="SRT", observation_mode="last_base_step"):
+    """The frozen historical manifest for this collision/observation mode (no checkout read)."""
     if collision not in ("SRT", "MRT"):
         raise ValueError("Matched collision must be SRT or MRT")
     if observation_mode not in ("last_base_step", "window"):
         raise ValueError("Unknown refined observation mode")
-    if observe_cv and jet_scenario == "none":
-        raise ValueError("--observe-cv requires an explicit public Jet scenario")
     name = ("source_manifest_window.json" if observation_mode == "window" else
             "source_manifest.json" if collision == "SRT" else "source_manifest_mrt.json")
-    expected = json.loads((HERE / "data/refined_dfg" / name).read_text())
+    return json.loads((HERE / "data/refined_dfg" / name).read_text())
+
+
+def verify_source(source, collision="SRT", observation_mode="last_base_step", jet_scenario="none", observe_cv=False):
+    expected = source_manifest(collision, observation_mode)
+    if observe_cv and jet_scenario == "none":
+        raise ValueError("--observe-cv requires an explicit public Jet scenario")
     if jet_scenario != "none":
         if collision != "MRT" or observation_mode != "window":
             raise ValueError("Public Jet scenarios require MRT and --exchange-window")