diff --git a/src/frontend/e2e/api-keys-copy.spec.js b/src/frontend/e2e/api-keys-copy.spec.js
index db3a056b..4a027050 100644
--- a/src/frontend/e2e/api-keys-copy.spec.js
+++ b/src/frontend/e2e/api-keys-copy.spec.js
@@ -18,9 +18,28 @@ import { test, expect } from '@playwright/test'
 const MCP_KEYS_ROUTE = '/settings?tab=mcp-keys'
 
 test.describe('@smoke api-keys copy buttons (#677, #859)', () => {
-  test.beforeEach(async ({ context }) => {
+  test.beforeEach(async ({ context, page }) => {
     // Headless browsers gate clipboard read by default — opt in for the test.
     await context.grantPermissions(['clipboard-read', 'clipboard-write'])
+
+    // #1134: McpKeysTab's onMounted fires POST /api/mcp/keys/ensure-default;
+    // when no user-scoped key exists it auto-creates "Default MCP Key" and
+    // opens the "Your MCP API Key is Ready!" modal at an arbitrary point
+    // mid-test — both modals are `fixed z-10 inset-0`, so the auto-modal
+    // lands on top and intercepts the Create click. Neutralize the race:
+    // call ensure-default ourselves, then reload — the remounted page's own
+    // ensure-default is a guaranteed no-op, so the auto-modal can never
+    // appear during the test body.
+    await page.goto(MCP_KEYS_ROUTE)
+    const token = await page.evaluate(() => localStorage.getItem('token'))
+    if (token) {
+      await page.request
+        .post('/api/mcp/keys/ensure-default', {
+          headers: { Authorization: `Bearer ${token}` },
+        })
+        .catch(() => {})
+    }
+    await page.reload()
   })
 
   test('Copy Config button writes MCP JSON to clipboard', async ({ page }) => {
diff --git a/src/frontend/e2e/smoke.spec.js b/src/frontend/e2e/smoke.spec.js
index 38b9bbf7..e4416724 100644
--- a/src/frontend/e2e/smoke.spec.js
+++ b/src/frontend/e2e/smoke.spec.js
@@ -25,11 +25,13 @@ test.describe('smoke', () => {
   })
 
   test('@smoke operating room page loads', async ({ page }) => {
+    // #1109/#1134: /operating-room is a legacy redirect to /operations.
+    // Navigating the old path also covers the redirect itself.
     await page.goto('/operating-room')
-    // Either a queue list, filters, an empty state, or the title.
-    await expect(
-      page.getByText(/operating|queue|priority|all types|no items/i).first()
-    ).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 })
+    await expect(page).toHaveURL(/\/operations/, { timeout: 10000 })
+    await expect(page.getByRole('heading', { name: 'Operations' })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 })
+    // Tab strip confirms the view mounted (not just the route resolved).
+    await expect(page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Needs Response' })).toBeVisible()
   })
 
   test('@smoke templates page loads', async ({ page }) => {