diff --git a/backend/tests/unit/test_paywall_reconnect_gate.py b/backend/tests/unit/test_paywall_reconnect_gate.py
index 3cc8ae2a34..2ad7886d72 100644
--- a/backend/tests/unit/test_paywall_reconnect_gate.py
+++ b/backend/tests/unit/test_paywall_reconnect_gate.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 
 
 def _read_source(path):
-    with open(path) as f:
+    with open(path, encoding='utf-8') as f:
         return f.read()
 
 
@@ -231,19 +231,25 @@ def test_is_trial_paywalled_checks_desktop_tokens(self):
         assert 'macos' in src, "desktop tokens must include 'macos'"
         assert 'desktop' in src, "desktop tokens must include 'desktop'"
 
-    def test_is_trial_paywalled_respects_kill_switch(self):
+    def test_is_trial_paywalled_filters_before_expiry_lookup(self):
         src = _read_source(SUBSCRIPTION_SRC_PATH)
         fn_start = src.find('def is_trial_paywalled(')
         assert fn_start != -1
         fn_body = src[fn_start : src.find('\ndef ', fn_start + 1)]
-        assert '_TRIAL_PAYWALL_ENABLED' in fn_body, "is_trial_paywalled must respect kill switch"
+        filter_pos = fn_body.find('platform.lower() not in _TRIAL_PAYWALL_DESKTOP_TOKENS')
+        expiry_pos = fn_body.find('_is_trial_expired_cached(uid)')
+        assert filter_pos != -1, "is_trial_paywalled must filter non-desktop platforms"
+        assert expiry_pos != -1, "is_trial_paywalled must call the cached expiry lookup"
+        assert filter_pos < expiry_pos, "platform filtering must happen before the expiry lookup"
 
-    def test_is_trial_paywalled_respects_test_uid_gating(self):
+    def test_is_trial_paywalled_delegates_to_cached_expiry(self):
         src = _read_source(SUBSCRIPTION_SRC_PATH)
         fn_start = src.find('def is_trial_paywalled(')
         assert fn_start != -1
         fn_body = src[fn_start : src.find('\ndef ', fn_start + 1)]
-        assert '_TRIAL_PAYWALL_TEST_UIDS' in fn_body, "is_trial_paywalled must respect test UID gating"
+        assert (
+            'return _is_trial_expired_cached(uid)' in fn_body
+        ), "desktop paywall decisions must use the cached expiry lookup"
 
     def test_is_trial_paywalled_uses_lower_for_case_insensitivity(self):
         src = _read_source(SUBSCRIPTION_SRC_PATH)
@@ -323,8 +329,6 @@ def _stub(name):
         self._mock_expired = MagicMock(return_value=True)
         self._orig_expired = sub._is_trial_expired_cached
         sub._is_trial_expired_cached = self._mock_expired
-        sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_ENABLED = True
-        sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_TEST_UIDS = set()
 
         yield
 
@@ -361,20 +365,17 @@ def test_mixed_case_desktop(self):
         assert self._sub.is_trial_paywalled('uid1', 'Desktop') is True
         assert self._sub.is_trial_paywalled('uid1', 'MACOS') is True
 
-    def test_kill_switch_disabled(self):
-        self._sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_ENABLED = False
+    def test_desktop_cache_false_returns_false(self):
+        self._mock_expired.return_value = False
         assert self._sub.is_trial_paywalled('uid1', 'desktop') is False
-        self._sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_ENABLED = True
 
-    def test_test_uid_gating_allows_listed(self):
-        self._sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_TEST_UIDS = {'uid1', 'uid2'}
+    def test_desktop_uid_delegates_to_expiry_cache(self):
         assert self._sub.is_trial_paywalled('uid1', 'desktop') is True
-        self._sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_TEST_UIDS = set()
+        self._mock_expired.assert_called_with('uid1')
 
-    def test_test_uid_gating_blocks_unlisted(self):
-        self._sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_TEST_UIDS = {'uid1', 'uid2'}
-        assert self._sub.is_trial_paywalled('uid99', 'desktop') is False
-        self._sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_TEST_UIDS = set()
+    def test_different_desktop_uid_uses_same_expiry_path(self):
+        assert self._sub.is_trial_paywalled('uid99', 'desktop') is True
+        self._mock_expired.assert_called_with('uid99')
 
     def test_not_expired_returns_false(self):
         self._mock_expired.return_value = False
@@ -446,8 +447,6 @@ def _stub(name):
 
         self._sub = sub
         self._byok = byok
-        sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_ENABLED = True
-        sub._TRIAL_PAYWALL_TEST_UIDS = set()
 
         yield