diff --git a/backend/handlers/bookings/edit_requests_test.go b/backend/handlers/bookings/edit_requests_test.go
index 000967a..f027f05 100644
--- a/backend/handlers/bookings/edit_requests_test.go
+++ b/backend/handlers/bookings/edit_requests_test.go
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ import (
 	"crussell/testutils/jwt"
 
 	"github.com/go-chi/chi/v5"
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 )
 
 // =============================================================================
@@ -2284,11 +2283,10 @@ func TestRequestEditHandler_NotificationUpsertOnReplace(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("first edit request failed: %d", w.Code)
 	}
 
-	// Capture first notification's created_at
-	var firstCreatedAt time.Time
+	var firstNotifID string
 	err := tx.QueryRow(ctx,
-		"SELECT created_at FROM admin_notifications WHERE booking_id = $1 AND reason = 'edit_requested'",
-		bookingID).Scan(&firstCreatedAt)
+		"SELECT id FROM admin_notifications WHERE booking_id = $1 AND reason = 'edit_requested'",
+		bookingID).Scan(&firstNotifID)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("expected first notification to exist: %v", err)
 	}
@@ -2304,12 +2302,7 @@ func TestRequestEditHandler_NotificationUpsertOnReplace(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected 1 notification after first request, got %d", notifCount)
 	}
 
-	// Ensure time has advanced past firstCreatedAt so the next notification has a distinct timestamp
-	assert.Eventually(t, func() bool {
-		return time.Now().After(firstCreatedAt.Add(time.Millisecond))
-	}, 5*time.Second, time.Millisecond, "timed out waiting for time to advance")
-
-	// Create second edit request (upsert)
+	// Create second edit request (upsert) — deletes old notification, inserts new one
 	w = makeRequest(handler, "POST", "/api/bookings/"+bookingID+"/edit-request",
 		map[string]interface{}{"new_start_time": time2.Format(time.RFC3339)}, token, ctx)
 	if w.Code != http.StatusCreated {
@@ -2327,16 +2320,16 @@ func TestRequestEditHandler_NotificationUpsertOnReplace(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("expected 1 notification after upsert, got %d", notifCount)
 	}
 
-	// Verify the notification has a fresh created_at (newer than original)
-	var secondCreatedAt time.Time
+	// Verify the notification was recreated (different ID from original)
+	var secondNotifID string
 	err = tx.QueryRow(ctx,
-		"SELECT created_at FROM admin_notifications WHERE booking_id = $1 AND reason = 'edit_requested'",
-		bookingID).Scan(&secondCreatedAt)
+		"SELECT id FROM admin_notifications WHERE booking_id = $1 AND reason = 'edit_requested'",
+		bookingID).Scan(&secondNotifID)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("expected notification to exist after upsert: %v", err)
 	}
-	if !secondCreatedAt.After(firstCreatedAt) {
-		t.Errorf("expected notification created_at to be newer than original: first=%v, second=%v", firstCreatedAt, secondCreatedAt)
+	if secondNotifID == firstNotifID {
+		t.Errorf("expected notification to be recreated (new ID), but got same ID: %s", secondNotifID)
 	}
 }