diff --git a/test/registered/spec/dspark/test_dspark_dp_tier.py b/test/registered/spec/dspark/test_dspark_dp_tier.py
index 5ea44346e..95f3a1ca8 100644
--- a/test/registered/spec/dspark/test_dspark_dp_tier.py
+++ b/test/registered/spec/dspark/test_dspark_dp_tier.py
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ class TestDraftDpSyncMetadata(CustomTestCase):
             num_tokens_for_logprob_per_req=1,
         )
         proposer.draft_model_runner = SimpleNamespace(device="cpu")
+        proposer._num_token_non_padded = torch.empty((1,), dtype=torch.int32)
 
         forward_batch = SimpleNamespace(input_ids=torch.arange(6))
         batch = SimpleNamespace(
@@ -81,8 +82,13 @@ class TestDraftDpSyncMetadata(CustomTestCase):
             [1, 3, 0, 2],
         )
         self.assertEqual(forward_batch.global_num_tokens_cpu, [6, 18, 0, 12])
-        # Metadata fill sets only the invariant GLOBAL count; the LOCAL
-        # num_token_non_padded is derived later when the draft forward localizes.
+        # The LOCAL count reuses the proposer's persistent buffer; the GLOBAL
+        # count is the invariant every DP rank agrees on.
+        self.assertIs(
+            forward_batch.num_token_non_padded, proposer._num_token_non_padded
+        )
+        self.assertEqual(forward_batch.num_token_non_padded.item(), 6)
+        self.assertEqual(forward_batch.num_token_non_padded_cpu, 6)
         self.assertEqual(forward_batch.global_num_token_non_padded.item(), 6)
         self.assertEqual(forward_batch.global_num_token_non_padded.dtype, torch.int32)
         self.assertEqual(forward_batch.global_num_token_non_padded_cpu, 6)