diff --git a/tests/fm_tone_presentation_contract_test.py b/tests/fm_tone_presentation_contract_test.py
index f2f8bf038b..eef144fbe7 100644
--- a/tests/fm_tone_presentation_contract_test.py
+++ b/tests/fm_tone_presentation_contract_test.py
@@ -67,13 +67,17 @@ def main() -> int:
         ("m_fmToneValueCmb", "m_fmToneRxValueCmb"),
     )
     rx_source = rx_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-    radio_model_source = (source_root / "src/models/RadioModel.cpp").read_text(
+    slice_model_source = (source_root / "src/models/SliceModel.cpp").read_text(
         encoding="utf-8"
     )
-    if "&SliceModel::fmDtcsCommandIssued" not in radio_model_source:
-        fail("RadioModel no longer forwards normalized DTCS operator intent")
-    if "m_backend->setSliceFmDtcs(" not in radio_model_source:
-        fail("RadioModel no longer sends DTCS intent through IRadioBackend")
+    if "controlRequested({field, DtcsSetting{" not in slice_model_source:
+        fail("SliceModel no longer publishes normalized DTCS operator intent")
+    icom_source = (source_root / "src/core/backends/icom/IcomCivBackend.cpp").read_text(
+        encoding="utf-8"
+    )
+    dtcs_dispatch = re.compile(r"case Field::FmDtcs: \{(?:(?!case Field::).)*setSliceFmDtcs\(", re.S)
+    if not dtcs_dispatch.search(icom_source):
+        fail("the Icom backend no longer applies the typed DTCS request")
     mode_visibility_edge = re.compile(
         r"m_fmContainer->setVisible\(isFM\);\s*"
         r"(?:\s*//[^\n]*\n)*\s*configureFmToneControls\(\);"
diff --git a/tests/hl2_tci_signaling_test.cpp b/tests/hl2_tci_signaling_test.cpp
index 1dd7e9f28b..4f8c2e417c 100644
--- a/tests/hl2_tci_signaling_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/hl2_tci_signaling_test.cpp
@@ -649,6 +649,18 @@ static void testSeamBackendCannotWedgeOnVfoB()
           "a refused VFO-B tune leaves no route transition in flight");
 }
 
+namespace hl2 {
+// Reuses an existing friend rather than adding a production test hook.
+struct Hl2TxGateTestAccess {
+    // Link state only; no Metis client is started. Typed model controls
+    // dispatch only while the radio is up.
+    static void setConnected(Hl2Backend& backend, bool connected)
+    {
+        backend.m_connected = connected;
+    }
+};
+}  // namespace hl2
+
 // promoteTxSliceAndContinue() has the same shape of trap: `slice set N tx=1` is
 // Flex text with no seam counterpart, and every caller opens a route transition
 // around it. A continuation that never runs strands that transition, so the
@@ -666,6 +678,12 @@ static void testSeamBackendPromoteAlwaysAnswers()
     check(!model.slice(0)->isTxSlice(),
           "fixture precondition: the FIXTURE seeded tx=0 on this slice");
 
+    auto* hl2 = dynamic_cast<hl2::Hl2Backend*>(model.backend());
+    check(hl2 != nullptr, "fixture precondition: the HL2 backend is live");
+    if (!hl2) { return; }
+    // A TCI client promotes a slice on a connected radio.
+    hl2::Hl2TxGateTestAccess::setConnected(*hl2, true);
+
     TciServer server(&model);
     bool answered = false, selected = false;
     Hl2TciSignalingTest::promote(server, 0, &answered, &selected);
@@ -691,6 +709,7 @@ static void testSeamBackendPromoteAlwaysAnswers()
     Hl2TciSignalingTest::promote(server, 0, &answered, &selected);
     check(answered && selected,
           "an already-TX slice is selected with no command at all");
+    hl2::Hl2TxGateTestAccess::setConnected(*hl2, false);
 }
 #endif
 
diff --git a/tests/icom_family_test.cpp b/tests/icom_family_test.cpp
index 3de1ee85b5..cf93a0e214 100644
--- a/tests/icom_family_test.cpp
+++ b/tests/icom_family_test.cpp
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include "models/TransmitModel.h"
 #include "core/RadioDiscovery.h"
 #include "core/backends/icom/IcomCivBackend.h"
+#include "core/backends/icom/IcomSession.h"
 #include "core/backends/icom/IcomControls.h"
 #include "core/backends/icom/IcomModels.h"
 #include "core/backends/icom/CivCodec.h"
@@ -25,6 +26,7 @@
 
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <cstdio>
+#include <memory>
 #include <optional>
 #include <utility>
 #include <vector>
@@ -45,6 +47,19 @@ struct IcomCivBackendTestAccess {
         return backend.confirmationFor(frame);
     }
 
+    // Typed model controls dispatch only while the radio is up. An unstarted
+    // IcomSession constructs no streams or sockets, so the frame is scheduled
+    // and then dropped by the unconnected transport.
+    static void setConnected(IcomCivBackend& backend, bool connected)
+    {
+        backend.m_connected = connected;
+        if (connected) {
+            backend.m_session = std::make_unique<IcomSession>();
+        } else {
+            backend.m_session.reset();
+        }
+    }
+
     static void injectConnectedFrame(IcomCivBackend& backend, const CivFrame& frame)
     {
         backend.m_connected = true;
@@ -999,11 +1014,22 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
             // phoneLevelFollowsNetworkInput, this would fail on the
             // m_networkModLevelPercent < 0 refusal — a reason that has nothing
             // to do with the gate this section pins (PR #5643 review).
+            //
+            // Operator TX intent is dispatched only to a connected radio with an
+            // open TX session. The connect attempt above never completes, so
+            // reopen admission the socket-free way and mark the link up.
+        }
+        check(model.rebuildBackendForTest(QStringLiteral("icom")),
+              "a socket-free Icom backend replaces the unconnected one");
+        auto* live = dynamic_cast<icom::IcomCivBackend*>(model.backend());
+        if (live) {
+            icom::IcomCivBackendTestAccess::setConnected(*live, true);
             model.transmitModel().setMicLevel(70);
-            check(icom::IcomCivBackendTestAccess::micGainReported(*rebuilt)
-                      && icom::IcomCivBackendTestAccess::micGainPercent(*rebuilt)
+            check(icom::IcomCivBackendTestAccess::micGainReported(*live)
+                      && icom::IcomCivBackendTestAccess::micGainPercent(*live)
                              == 70,
                   "the operator moving the slider still reaches the Icom mic gain");
+            icom::IcomCivBackendTestAccess::setConnected(*live, false);
         }
     }