diff --git a/scripts/smoke_test_player.gd b/scripts/smoke_test_player.gd
index 02e4c0a..d631608 100644
--- a/scripts/smoke_test_player.gd
+++ b/scripts/smoke_test_player.gd
@@ -20,18 +20,19 @@ func _run() -> void:
 	await process_frame
 	print("SMOKE: loading test level scene")
 
-	# Load the test level scene (which includes the player).
+	# Load the test level scene (which includes the player). Use the same
+	# SceneTree API as the real game so `current_scene` is populated before
+	# the scene is added and its _ready() callbacks fire. That ordering is
+	# what the player's spawn lookup (get_tree().current_scene) depends on.
 	var packed: PackedScene = load("res://scenes/worlds/test_level.tscn")
-	var level: Node3D = packed.instantiate()
+	var result := change_scene_to_packed(packed)
+	if result != OK:
+		printerr("SMOKE: failed to change scene, error ", result)
+		quit(1)
+		return
 
-	# Order matters: set_current_scene() requires the node's parent to already
-	# be root, so add_child() must come first. This mirrors what a real
-	# change_scene_to_packed() does at runtime.
-	root.add_child(level)
-	current_scene = level
-
-	print("SMOKE: level instantiated, waiting for ready")
-	await level.ready
+	await scene_changed
+	var level: Node3D = current_scene as Node3D
 	print("SMOKE: level ready")
 
 	# 1. Verify the player node exists in the scene tree.