diff --git a/.maestro/00-server-setup.yaml b/.maestro/00-server-setup.yaml
index 1fa035f3..a74dd8d0 100644
--- a/.maestro/00-server-setup.yaml
+++ b/.maestro/00-server-setup.yaml
@@ -36,10 +36,12 @@ appId: ${APP_ID}
 - takeScreenshot: 00-06-saved
 - tapOn:
     text: "Home"
-# The e2e server's test stream showing up in the feed proves the app is
-# actually talking to the custom node and not production.
+# A stream card showing up in the feed proves the app is talking to the
+# custom node (its isolated firehose only has our test stream). Matched
+# by testID because the card's link wrapper collapses its subtree on iOS,
+# hiding the title text from Maestro.
 - extendedWaitUntil:
     visible:
-      text: "e2e test stream"
+      id: "home-stream-card"
     timeout: 30000
 - takeScreenshot: 00-07-home
diff --git a/.maestro/04-stream.yaml b/.maestro/04-stream.yaml
index 6673e2bc..7c6c3af9 100644
--- a/.maestro/04-stream.yaml
+++ b/.maestro/04-stream.yaml
@@ -2,17 +2,22 @@ appId: ${APP_ID}
 ---
 - launchApp
 - takeScreenshot: 04-01-launched
-# open the e2e test account's live stream from the home feed
+# open the test stream from the home feed. Matched by testID because the
+# card's link wrapper collapses its subtree on iOS.
 - extendedWaitUntil:
     visible:
-      text: "e2e test stream"
+      id: "home-stream-card"
     timeout: 30000
 - tapOn:
-    text: "e2e test stream"
+    id: "home-stream-card"
 - waitForAnimationToEnd
 - takeScreenshot: 04-02-stream-open
-- assertVisible:
-    text: ".*e2e test stream.*"
+# the stream's "Now streaming - e2e test stream" chat system message is
+# plain text; give it time to arrive over the chat socket
+- extendedWaitUntil:
+    visible:
+      text: ".*e2e test stream.*"
+    timeout: 30000
 # tap on the video to show the player controls
 - tapOn:
     point: 50%,20%
diff --git a/js/app/components/aqlink.tsx b/js/app/components/aqlink.tsx
index 48024df0..8ddd3f2f 100644
--- a/js/app/components/aqlink.tsx
+++ b/js/app/components/aqlink.tsx
@@ -35,10 +35,12 @@ export default function AQLink({
   children,
   to,
   style,
+  testID,
 }: {
   children: React.ReactNode;
   to: LinkParams;
   style?: StyleProp<ViewStyle>;
+  testID?: string;
 }) {
   const { isWeb } = usePlatform();
   const navigation = useNavigation();
@@ -116,6 +118,7 @@ export default function AQLink({
     <Pressable
       style={[baseStyle, style]}
       onPress={handlePress}
+      testID={testID}
       // @ts-ignore - href prop makes this render as <a> on web
       href={isWeb ? href : undefined}
     >
diff --git a/js/app/src/screens/home.tsx b/js/app/src/screens/home.tsx
index c8f82cfc..5830f0e2 100644
--- a/js/app/src/screens/home.tsx
+++ b/js/app/src/screens/home.tsx
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ function HomeScreenItem({
   const user = item.author.handle || item.author.did;
   return (
     <AQLink
+      testID="home-stream-card"
       to={{
         screen: "Stream",
         params: {