diff --git a/tests/lasuite-drive/ops.py b/tests/lasuite-drive/ops.py
index 856e9e0..2b567fb 100644
--- a/tests/lasuite-drive/ops.py
+++ b/tests/lasuite-drive/ops.py
@@ -19,7 +19,12 @@ def pre_install(ctx):
     NOT create the MinIO bucket: `minio-createbuckets` is a `replicas:0` one-shot (restart_policy:
     none) that must be triggered. The MinIO storage test asserts the bucket exists, so trigger it
     here and poll. `--detach` is REQUIRED: the job creates the bucket then EXITS 0, so it never
-    holds a steady 1/1 replica — a blocking scale would wait forever."""
+    holds a steady 1/1 replica — a blocking scale would wait forever.
+
+    BEST-EFFORT, like the setup_custom_tests.sh it replaced: on poll timeout we WARN and continue
+    (the one-shot often lands just after the window). The custom-tier MinIO storage test is the
+    real gate for a genuinely missing bucket — failing the install op here was an rcust M2
+    regression (the original hook fell through on timeout by design)."""
     stack = ctx.domain.replace(".", "_")
     print("  pre_install: creating MinIO bucket via the minio-createbuckets one-shot", flush=True)
     subprocess.run(
@@ -51,7 +56,12 @@ def pre_install(ctx):
             )
             return
         time.sleep(3)
-    raise AssertionError("minio-createbuckets one-shot did not create drive-media-storage in 90s")
+    print(
+        "  !! pre_install: minio-createbuckets one-shot did not create drive-media-storage in 90s "
+        "— continuing (best-effort, as the pre-restructure hook did); the custom-tier MinIO test "
+        "gates a genuinely missing bucket",
+        flush=True,
+    )
 
 
 def _wait_collabora_ready(domain, timeout=420):