diff --git a/internal/dnsforward/dnsforward_test.go b/internal/dnsforward/dnsforward_test.go
index 798da17c..11275188 100644
--- a/internal/dnsforward/dnsforward_test.go
+++ b/internal/dnsforward/dnsforward_test.go
@@ -500,6 +500,8 @@ func TestServerRace(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestSafeSearch(t *testing.T) {
+	var upsCalledCounter uint32
+
 	safeSearchConf := filtering.SafeSearchConfig{
 		Enabled: true,
 		Google:  true,
@@ -537,6 +539,8 @@ func TestSafeSearch(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	s := createTestServer(t, filterConf, forwardConf)
 	ups := aghtest.NewUpstreamMock(func(req *dns.Msg) (resp *dns.Msg, err error) {
+		atomic.AddUint32(&upsCalledCounter, 1)
+
 		resp = new(dns.Msg).SetReply(req)
 		resp.Answer = []dns.RR{&dns.A{
 			Hdr: dns.RR_Header{
@@ -599,7 +603,6 @@ func TestSafeSearch(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Run(tc.host, func(t *testing.T) {
 			req := createTestMessage(tc.host)
 
-			// TODO(a.garipov):  Create our own helper for this.
 			var reply *dns.Msg
 			reply, err = dns.Exchange(req, addr)
 			require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -620,6 +623,10 @@ func TestSafeSearch(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 		})
 	}
+
+	t.Run("mock_upstream_is_used", func(t *testing.T) {
+		assert.Positive(t, atomic.LoadUint32(&upsCalledCounter))
+	})
 }
 
 func TestInvalidRequest(t *testing.T) {