diff --git a/tests/unit/test_neighbor_evidence_edges.py b/tests/unit/test_neighbor_evidence_edges.py
index 85ef274..c8d8d98 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_neighbor_evidence_edges.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_neighbor_evidence_edges.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import contextlib
 import logging
 import sqlite3
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -21,8 +22,21 @@ SELF_KEY = "ff" * 32
 KEY_A = "aa" * 32
 KEY_B = "bb" * 32
 
-RECENT = "2026-08-01T00:00:00+00:00"
-ANCIENT = "2020-01-01T00:00:00+00:00"
+
+def ago(days: float) -> str:
+    """A fixture timestamp `days` before now, in the format the bot stores.
+
+    These have to be relative: the days= filters compare last_seen against
+    wall-clock now, so an absolute "recent" literal silently ages out of the
+    window and turns the filter tests red on a date nobody picked.
+    """
+    stamp = datetime.now(timezone.utc) - timedelta(days=days)
+    return stamp.replace(microsecond=0).isoformat()
+
+
+RECENT = ago(1)          # inside every window these tests exercise
+EARLIER = ago(250)       # a lifetime first_seen, well outside a 30-day window
+ANCIENT = ago(365 * 6)   # outside any window the viewer offers
 
 
 class ViewerStub:
@@ -84,7 +98,7 @@ def seeded(viewer):
     with viewer._with_db_connection() as conn:
         insert_link(conn, SELF_KEY, KEY_A, observations=4, snr_sum=30.0,
                     snr_count=4, best_snr=9.5, last_snr=7.0,
-                    first_seen="2026-01-01T00:00:00+00:00", last_seen=RECENT)
+                    first_seen=EARLIER, last_seen=RECENT)
         insert_link(conn, SELF_KEY, KEY_B, observations=1, snr_sum=-3.0,
                     snr_count=1, best_snr=-3.0, last_snr=-3.0,
                     last_seen=ANCIENT)
@@ -134,7 +148,7 @@ def test_edges_are_tagged_and_treated_as_first_hop(seeded):
 def test_edges_preserve_lifetime_counts_and_timestamps(seeded):
     edge = find_edge(seeded._compute_neighbor_evidence_edges(), SELF_KEY, KEY_A)
     assert edge["observation_count"] == 4
-    assert edge["first_seen"] == "2026-01-01T00:00:00+00:00"
+    assert edge["first_seen"] == EARLIER
     assert edge["last_seen"] == RECENT
 
 
@@ -192,7 +206,7 @@ def test_edge_keys_honour_the_days_window(seeded):
     """neighbor_links is never pruned, so stale evidence must not label edges."""
     keys = seeded._neighbor_evidence_edge_keys(days=30)
     assert (SELF_KEY[:6], KEY_A[:6]) in keys.prefixes
-    # KEY_B was last heard in 2020.
+    # KEY_B was last heard years ago.
     assert (SELF_KEY[:6], KEY_B[:6]) not in keys.prefixes
     assert (SELF_KEY, KEY_B) not in keys.public_keys
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_packet_capture_neighbors.py b/tests/unit/test_packet_capture_neighbors.py
index ca13d0d..5e41b89 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_packet_capture_neighbors.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_packet_capture_neighbors.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import contextlib
 import json
 import logging
 import sqlite3
+import time
 import types
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 
@@ -488,28 +489,35 @@ def test_capability_false_without_a_radio():
 # State persistence
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+# _load_neighbors_timestamp rejects anything outside now-400d .. now+300s, so
+# both of these have to be relative: an absolute epoch literal drifts out of
+# the accepted range and fails on a date nobody picked.
+STORED_EPOCH = float(round(time.time()) - 3600)
+FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH = round(time.time()) + 10 * 365 * 86400
+
+
 def test_state_round_trips_through_bot_metadata(db_manager):
     service = build_service(BASE_INI, db_manager=db_manager)
     assert service.last_neighbors_publish == 0.0
 
-    service.last_neighbors_publish = 1774482900.0
+    service.last_neighbors_publish = STORED_EPOCH
     service._save_neighbors_state()
-    assert db_manager.metadata[NEIGHBORS_STATE_KEY] == "1774482900.0"
+    assert db_manager.metadata[NEIGHBORS_STATE_KEY] == str(STORED_EPOCH)
 
     reloaded = build_service(BASE_INI, db_manager=db_manager)
-    assert reloaded.last_neighbors_publish == 1774482900.0
+    assert reloaded.last_neighbors_publish == STORED_EPOCH
 
 
 def test_attempt_state_round_trips_through_bot_metadata(db_manager):
     service = build_service(BASE_INI, db_manager=db_manager)
     assert service.last_neighbors_attempt == 0.0
 
-    service.last_neighbors_attempt = 1774482900.0
+    service.last_neighbors_attempt = STORED_EPOCH
     service._save_neighbors_attempt_state()
-    assert db_manager.metadata[NEIGHBORS_ATTEMPT_STATE_KEY] == "1774482900.0"
+    assert db_manager.metadata[NEIGHBORS_ATTEMPT_STATE_KEY] == str(STORED_EPOCH)
 
     reloaded = build_service(BASE_INI, db_manager=db_manager)
-    assert reloaded.last_neighbors_attempt == 1774482900.0
+    assert reloaded.last_neighbors_attempt == STORED_EPOCH
 
 
 def test_malformed_state_is_ignored(db_manager):
@@ -519,7 +527,7 @@ def test_malformed_state_is_ignored(db_manager):
 
 def test_far_future_state_is_ignored(db_manager):
     """A clock jump forward would otherwise suppress cycles indefinitely."""
-    db_manager.metadata[NEIGHBORS_STATE_KEY] = str(2**31)
+    db_manager.metadata[NEIGHBORS_STATE_KEY] = str(FAR_FUTURE_EPOCH)
     assert build_service(BASE_INI, db_manager=db_manager).last_neighbors_publish == 0.0