diff --git a/custom_components/houseplan/__init__.py b/custom_components/houseplan/__init__.py
index dadd696..b079ab9 100755
--- a/custom_components/houseplan/__init__.py
+++ b/custom_components/houseplan/__init__.py
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ async def async_setup_entry(hass: HomeAssistant, entry: HouseplanConfigEntry) ->
         except Exception:  # noqa: BLE001 — housekeeping must never fail a setup
             _LOGGER.exception("House Plan: sweeping unreferenced files failed")
 
+    data.sweep = _sweep
     await _sweep()
     entry.async_on_unload(
         async_track_time_interval(hass, _sweep, timedelta(hours=24))
diff --git a/custom_components/houseplan/store.py b/custom_components/houseplan/store.py
index 66d8762..79f3003 100644
--- a/custom_components/houseplan/store.py
+++ b/custom_components/houseplan/store.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import asyncio
+from collections.abc import Awaitable, Callable
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -42,6 +43,11 @@ class HouseplanData:
     # One lock for every load→modify→save cycle of both stores: prevents
     # lost updates from concurrent WS calls and makes the rev check atomic.
     write_lock: asyncio.Lock = field(default_factory=asyncio.Lock)
+    # Collect files nothing references any more. Set during setup, which also
+    # runs it once and schedules it daily. Exposed so it can be invoked
+    # directly — a test that fakes a 24 h jump proves the timer fires, not that
+    # the work happens, and those are different claims.
+    sweep: Callable[[], Awaitable[None]] | None = None
 
 
 HouseplanConfigEntry = ConfigEntry[HouseplanData]
diff --git a/tests_backend/test_ha_websocket.py b/tests_backend/test_ha_websocket.py
index acc3c37..8c237be 100644
--- a/tests_backend/test_ha_websocket.py
+++ b/tests_backend/test_ha_websocket.py
@@ -938,14 +938,15 @@ async def test_startup_sweep_collects_what_no_commit_will(
     ), "the emptied staging folder goes with its last file"
 
 
-async def test_daily_sweep_callback_collects_too(
+async def test_periodic_sweep_collects_too(
     hass: HomeAssistant, hass_ws_client: WebSocketGenerator
 ) -> None:
-    """The interval path, exercised on its own by firing the scheduled callback."""
-    import datetime as dt
+    """The scheduled pass, invoked directly rather than by faking a 24 h jump.
 
-    from homeassistant.util import dt as dt_util
-    from pytest_homeassistant_custom_component.common import async_fire_time_changed
+    Firing a time change proves the timer fires; awaiting the callback proves it
+    does the work. This asserts the second, which is the part that regressed.
+    """
+    from custom_components.houseplan.store import get_data
 
     await _setup(hass)
     client = await hass_ws_client(hass)
@@ -954,7 +955,9 @@ async def test_daily_sweep_callback_collects_too(
 
     await _seed_aged(hass, list(p.values()))
 
-    async_fire_time_changed(hass, dt_util.utcnow() + dt.timedelta(hours=25))
+    data = get_data(hass)
+    assert data is not None and data.sweep is not None, "setup must publish the sweep"
+    await data.sweep()
     await hass.async_block_till_done()
 
     await _assert_swept(hass, p)