diff --git a/tests/core/test_alert_history_row.py b/tests/core/test_alert_history_row.py
index c8e5a21..ede2e38 100644
--- a/tests/core/test_alert_history_row.py
+++ b/tests/core/test_alert_history_row.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ from steward.alerts.routes import _history_row
 from steward.core.alerts import MUTED, RELEASED
 from steward.models.alerts import AlertOperator
 
-RULE = SimpleNamespace(operator=AlertOperator(">"), threshold=90.0)
+RULE = SimpleNamespace(metric_name="cpu_pct", operator=AlertOperator(">"), threshold=90.0)
 
 
 def _event(**kw):
@@ -32,10 +32,14 @@ def test_notes_split_into_mute_release_and_the_rest(note, notes, muted_by, relea
     assert (row["notes"], row["muted_by"], row["released"]) == (notes, muted_by, released)
 
 
-def test_value_and_condition():
-    assert _history_row(_event(), RULE)["value"] == "97.5"
-    assert _history_row(_event(metric_value=None), RULE)["value"] == "no data"
-    assert _history_row(_event(), RULE)["condition"] == "> 90"
+def test_value_and_condition_read_in_words():
+    """#5212: the metric's name and unit, not "cpu_pct = 97.5" and "> 90"."""
+    assert _history_row(_event(), RULE)["value"] == "CPU 98%"
+    assert _history_row(_event(metric_value=None), RULE)["value"] == "No CPU reading"
+    assert _history_row(_event(), RULE)["condition"] == "CPU > 90%"
+    down = SimpleNamespace(metric_name="is_up", operator=AlertOperator("<"), threshold=0.5)
+    row = _history_row(_event(metric_value=0.0), down)
+    assert (row["value"], row["condition"]) == ("Down", "is down")
 
 
 def test_only_attempted_deliveries_are_listed():