diff --git a/tests/integration/test_ansible_inventory.py b/tests/integration/test_ansible_inventory.py
index 57e65e1..711f4e0 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_ansible_inventory.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_ansible_inventory.py
@@ -20,9 +20,11 @@ _NEEDS_DB = pytest.mark.skipif(
 
 
 def _make_app():
+    # create_app is synchronous and runs its own internal asyncio.run for
+    # settings/migrations — call it directly (matching the other integration
+    # tests); wrapping it in asyncio.run nests event loops and fails.
     from steward.app import create_app
-    import asyncio
-    return asyncio.run(create_app(testing=False))
+    return create_app(testing=False)
 
 
 @_NEEDS_DB