diff --git a/src/lib/depend-inject.hpp b/src/lib/depend-inject.hpp
index 2cc05e43a..a7a99ed43 100644
--- a/src/lib/depend-inject.hpp
+++ b/src/lib/depend-inject.hpp
@@ -324,17 +324,26 @@ namespace lib {
               return bool(mock_);
             }
           
+          /** trigger lazy service object instantiation */
+          MOC&
+          triggerCreate()
+            {
+              Depend<SRV>{}.operator()();
+              ENSURE (mock_);
+              return *mock_;
+            }
+          
           MOC&
           operator* ()  const
             {
-              ENSURE (mock_);
+              REQUIRE (mock_);
               return *mock_;
             }
           
           MOC*
           operator-> ()  const
             {
-              ENSURE (mock_);
+              REQUIRE (mock_);
               return mock_.get();
             }
         };
diff --git a/tests/gui/ctrl/element-access-test.cpp b/tests/gui/ctrl/element-access-test.cpp
index 1cb9fbf93..96f273c24 100644
--- a/tests/gui/ctrl/element-access-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/gui/ctrl/element-access-test.cpp
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ namespace test {
           auto location = UICoord{"win-1","persp-A","thePanel","someView","tab#5"};
           DummyTab dummyTab;
           
+          fakeDirectory.triggerCreate();
           fakeDirectory->expectedQuery = location;
           fakeDirectory->expectedAnswer = &dummyTab;