diff --git a/test/265_dns_reverse_test.sh b/test/265_dns_reverse_test.sh
index 5a9e94fe..0f7c8804 100755
--- a/test/265_dns_reverse_test.sh
+++ b/test/265_dns_reverse_test.sh
@@ -9,9 +9,14 @@ start_suite "Reverse DNS test"
 weave_on $HOST1 launch
 start_container_with_dns $HOST1 --name=c1
 
-for name in bar bar black sheep have you any wool; do
+# We try names in alphabetical order; this is because the
+# nameserver keeps entries sorted by hostname then address,
+# so by starting with acontainer then trying bcontainer,
+# we're guaranteed to have to ignore a tombstone to get the
+# right result.
+for name in acontainer bcontainer ccontainer; do
     start_container $HOST1 $IP/24 --name=$name
-    assert "exec_on $HOST1 c1 dig +short -x $IP" $name.weave.local.
+    assert_dns_record $HOST1 c1 $name.weave.local $IP
     rm_containers $HOST1 $name
 done
 
diff --git a/test/config.sh b/test/config.sh
index 0189e62f..1ab62c3d 100644
--- a/test/config.sh
+++ b/test/config.sh
@@ -167,9 +167,9 @@ container_ip() {
 
 # assert_dns_record <host> <container> <name> [<ip> ...]
 assert_dns_record() {
-    host=$1
-    container=$2
-    name=$3
+    local host=$1
+    local container=$2
+    local name=$3
     shift 3
     exp_ips_regex=$(echo "$@" | sed -e 's/ /\\\|/g')