diff --git a/e2e/k8s/k8s_test.go b/e2e/k8s/k8s_test.go
index 20f74f8e..426d6a91 100644
--- a/e2e/k8s/k8s_test.go
+++ b/e2e/k8s/k8s_test.go
@@ -418,8 +418,26 @@ func createStoredK8sApplyWithTask(t *testing.T, dsn string, apply *storage.Apply
 		task.CompletedAt = &now
 	}
 
+	// Dual-write the apply_operations row alongside the apply, mirroring the
+	// production apply-create path. Every apply owns exactly one operation
+	// whose state tracks the parent, so the operator's operation-claim loop can
+	// claim and drive this apply; CreateWithTasksAndOperations links the task to
+	// the operation via apply_operation_id.
+	operation := &storage.ApplyOperation{
+		Deployment: apply.Deployment,
+		State:      apply.State,
+		CreatedAt:  now,
+		UpdatedAt:  now,
+	}
+	if !state.IsState(apply.State, state.Apply.Pending) {
+		operation.StartedAt = &now
+	}
+	if state.IsTerminalApplyState(apply.State) && !state.IsState(apply.State, state.Apply.Stopped) {
+		operation.CompletedAt = &now
+	}
+
 	store := mysqlstore.New(db)
-	_, err = store.Applies().CreateWithTasks(t.Context(), apply, []*storage.Task{task})
+	_, err = store.Applies().CreateWithTasksAndOperations(t.Context(), apply, []*storage.Task{task}, []*storage.ApplyOperation{operation})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	return apply.ApplyIdentifier
 }
diff --git a/e2e/k8s/operator_fixtures_test.go b/e2e/k8s/operator_fixtures_test.go
index ed8e8f41..65752bc1 100644
--- a/e2e/k8s/operator_fixtures_test.go
+++ b/e2e/k8s/operator_fixtures_test.go
@@ -55,6 +55,20 @@ func markApplyHeartbeatStale(t *testing.T, dsn, applyID, storageName string) {
 	rowsAffected, err := result.RowsAffected()
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 	require.Equal(t, int64(1), rowsAffected, "expected to mark one %s apply heartbeat stale", storageName)
+
+	// With operation-level claiming, a running apply is reclaimed via
+	// FindNextApplyOperation's stale-heartbeat clause, which keys off
+	// apply_operations.updated_at (not applies.updated_at). Age the apply's
+	// operation rows too so the operator can re-lease without waiting out the
+	// production staleness window. Operation rows are optional here (e.g. the
+	// data-plane apply has none), so we don't assert a row count.
+	_, err = db.ExecContext(t.Context(),
+		`UPDATE apply_operations ao
+			JOIN applies a ON ao.apply_id = a.id
+			SET ao.updated_at = NOW() - INTERVAL 2 MINUTE
+			WHERE a.apply_identifier = ?`,
+		applyID)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
 
 func markDataPlaneHeartbeatStale(t *testing.T, applyID string) {