diff --git a/tests/network/01-ping-node/MIGRATION_SUMMARY.md b/tests/network/01-ping-node/MIGRATION_SUMMARY.md
index a0f2bed9..d097a797 100644
--- a/tests/network/01-ping-node/MIGRATION_SUMMARY.md
+++ b/tests/network/01-ping-node/MIGRATION_SUMMARY.md
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ Comprehensive documentation covering:
 | **Node1 Port** | 10101 | 4040 |
 | **Node2 Port** | 10102 | 4040 (only used for ping, not listening) |
 | **Config Source** | `fixtures/network-node-configs/devnet1/node1.json` | Generated by `modal node create` |
-| **Passfile** | `fixtures/passfiles/node1.mod_passfile` | Generated in `./tmp/node1/node.passfile` |
+| **Passfile** | `fixtures/passfiles/node1.mod_passfile` | Generated in `./tmp/node1/node.modal_passfile` |
 
 **Note:** Port 4040 is the default from `modal node create`. This can be customized by editing the generated `config.json`.
 
@@ -117,12 +117,12 @@ Comprehensive documentation covering:
 └── tmp/                         # NEW: Created by scripts (gitignored)
     ├── node1/
     │   ├── config.json          # Generated
-    │   ├── node.passfile        # Generated (keep secure!)
+    │   ├── node.modal_passfile  # Generated (keep secure!)
     │   ├── storage/             # RocksDB datastore
     │   └── logs/                # Node logs
     └── node2/
         ├── config.json
-        ├── node.passfile
+        ├── node.modal_passfile
         ├── storage/
         └── logs/
 ```
diff --git a/tests/network/01-ping-node/test.sh b/tests/network/01-ping-node/test.sh
index 43757987..d341cc27 100755
--- a/tests/network/01-ping-node/test.sh
+++ b/tests/network/01-ping-node/test.sh
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ echo ""
 echo "Test 2: Verifying node1 structure..."
 assert_file_exists "./tmp/node1/config.json" "Node1 config.json should exist"
 assert_file_exists "./tmp/node1/node.modal_passfile" "Node1 passfile should exist"
+assert_node_passfile_config "./tmp/node1" "node1 config should resolve to its generated passfile"
 assert_file_exists "./tmp/node1/data" "Node1 data directory should exist"
 
 # Test 3: Verify node1 has the standard peer ID
diff --git a/tests/network/02-run-devnet1/test.sh b/tests/network/02-run-devnet1/test.sh
index d9859628..6cbe03d9 100755
--- a/tests/network/02-run-devnet1/test.sh
+++ b/tests/network/02-run-devnet1/test.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ echo ""
 echo "Test 2: Verifying node1 structure..."
 assert_file_exists "./tmp/node1/config.json" "Node1 config.json should exist"
 assert_file_exists "./tmp/node1/node.modal_passfile" "Node1 passfile should exist"
+assert_node_passfile_config "./tmp/node1" "node1 config should resolve to its generated passfile"
 assert_file_exists "./tmp/node1/data" "Node1 data directory should exist"
 
 # Test 3: Verify node1 has the standard peer ID
diff --git a/tests/network/05-mining/test.sh b/tests/network/05-mining/test.sh
index 20215326..add34982 100755
--- a/tests/network/05-mining/test.sh
+++ b/tests/network/05-mining/test.sh
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ PYCONFIG
 
 assert_file_exists "./tmp/miner/config.json" "Node config should be created"
 assert_file_exists "./tmp/miner/node.modal_passfile" "Node passfile should be created"
+assert_node_passfile_config "./tmp/miner" "miner config should resolve to its generated passfile"
 
 # Test 3: Start miner
 echo ""
diff --git a/tests/network/10-hybrid-devnet1/01-run-hybrid-node.sh b/tests/network/10-hybrid-devnet1/01-run-hybrid-node.sh
index 1b858e54..e339b25d 100755
--- a/tests/network/10-hybrid-devnet1/01-run-hybrid-node.sh
+++ b/tests/network/10-hybrid-devnet1/01-run-hybrid-node.sh
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ if [ ! -f "./tmp/node1/config.json" ]; then
 EOF
 fi
 
+python3 ../check-node-passfile.py ./tmp/node1 || exit 1
+
 # Clear storage for clean test
 modal node clear-storage --dir ./tmp/node1 --yes
 
diff --git a/tests/network/check-node-passfile.py b/tests/network/check-node-passfile.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..835e4d97
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/network/check-node-passfile.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+"""Check that a created node uses its generated passfile, not a stale path."""
+
+import json
+import sys
+from pathlib import Path
+
+
+def main(node_dir: Path) -> None:
+    config = json.loads((node_dir / "config.json").read_text())
+    configured = config.get("passfile_path")
+    if not isinstance(configured, str) or not configured:
+        raise ValueError("config has no passfile_path")
+    expected = node_dir / "node.modal_passfile"
+    actual = Path(configured)
+    if not actual.is_absolute():
+        actual = node_dir / actual
+    if actual.resolve() != expected.resolve():
+        raise ValueError(f"passfile_path resolves to {actual}, expected {expected}")
+    if not actual.is_file():
+        raise ValueError(f"configured passfile does not exist: {actual}")
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    if len(sys.argv) != 2:
+        sys.exit("usage: check-node-passfile.py NODE_DIR")
+    main(Path(sys.argv[1]))
diff --git a/tests/network/test-lib.sh b/tests/network/test-lib.sh
index b513c2c3..7108074c 100755
--- a/tests/network/test-lib.sh
+++ b/tests/network/test-lib.sh
@@ -225,6 +225,14 @@ assert_file_exists() {
     fi
 }
 
+# Verify the generated config resolves to the generated node identity.
+# A file-existence check alone misses a stale passfile_path in config.json.
+assert_node_passfile_config() {
+    local node_dir="$1"
+    local msg="${2:-Node config should use its generated passfile}"
+    assert_success "python3 ../check-node-passfile.py '$node_dir'" "$msg"
+}
+
 # Assert numeric comparison
 assert_number() {
     local actual="$1"