diff --git a/tests/main.cpp b/tests/main.cpp
index 8967d14fd..90f26ee24 100644
--- a/tests/main.cpp
+++ b/tests/main.cpp
@@ -136,8 +136,6 @@ auto main(int argc, const char **argv) -> int {
   }
   // if we exited via REQUIRE(), we likely left the terminal in an invalid
   // state. go ahead and reset it manually.
-  if(res){
-    reset_terminal();
-  }
+  reset_terminal();
   return res; // the result from doctest is propagated here as well
 }
diff --git a/tests/reel.cpp b/tests/reel.cpp
index 5532ca01b..61c45073c 100644
--- a/tests/reel.cpp
+++ b/tests/reel.cpp
@@ -327,6 +327,7 @@ TEST_CASE("Reels") {
       tabs[n] = ncreel_add(nr, nullptr, nullptr, cbfxn, &order[n]);
       REQUIRE(tabs[n]);
       CHECK(tabs[0] == nr->tablets);
+      REQUIRE(nctablet_plane(tabs[n]));
       CHECK_EQ(0, notcurses_render(nc_));
       CHECK(ncreel_validate(nr));
     }