diff --git a/tests/heap_allocation.rs b/tests/heap_allocation.rs
index bcdeac65..56f7cb7c 100644
--- a/tests/heap_allocation.rs
+++ b/tests/heap_allocation.rs
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ extern crate alloc;
 use alloc::{boxed::Box, vec::Vec};
 use blog_os::allocator::HEAP_SIZE;
 use bootloader::{entry_point, BootInfo};
+use core::hint::black_box;
 use core::panic::PanicInfo;
 
 entry_point!(main);
@@ -61,6 +62,7 @@ fn many_boxes_long_lived() {
         let x = Box::new(i);
         assert_eq!(*x, i);
     }
+    black_box(&long_lived); // new - ensures long_lived isn't optimized away
     assert_eq!(*long_lived, 1); // new
 }