diff --git a/test/new b/test/new
index 0afb04c..32b058f 100755
--- a/test/new
+++ b/test/new
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@ notmuch new > /dev/null
 # This was quite enjoyable.  Let's do it again.
 mkdir "$MAIL_DIR"/2nd
 cp -a "$MAIL_DIR"/cur "$MAIL_DIR"/2nd/
+touch "$MAIL_DIR"/2nd/cur
 output2=$(notmuch new)
 
 test_subtest_known_broken