diff --git a/tests/components/proc/mobject/scope-path-test.cpp b/tests/components/proc/mobject/scope-path-test.cpp
index 9334f0e11..4663ae388 100644
--- a/tests/components/proc/mobject/scope-path-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/components/proc/mobject/scope-path-test.cpp
@@ -65,8 +65,7 @@ namespace test    {
         {
           // Prepare an (test)Index backing the PlacementRefs
           PPIdx index = build_testScopes();
-#if false     ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////TICKET 384
-          PMO& startPlacement = *(index->query<TestSubMO1>(index->getRoot()));
+          PMO& startPlacement = retrieve_startElm();
           ASSERT (startPlacement);
           
           ScopePath testPath = buildPath (startPlacement);
@@ -76,7 +75,6 @@ namespace test    {
           check_Identity_and_Copy (startPlacement);
           navigate (testPath, index);
           clear (testPath, index);
-#endif
         }
       
       
diff --git a/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/scope-query-test.cpp b/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/scope-query-test.cpp
index 3e5e77240..e139b6452 100644
--- a/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/scope-query-test.cpp
+++ b/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/scope-query-test.cpp
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ namespace test    {
       run (Arg) 
         {
           // Prepare an (test)Index (dummy "session")
-          build_testScopes();
+          PPIdx testSession (build_testScopes());
           
           QueryResolver const& resolver = SessionServiceExploreScope::getResolver();
           PlacementMO   const& scope    = SessionServiceExploreScope::getScopeRoot();
diff --git a/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.cpp b/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.cpp
index 20cf0639e..f7e4c3f6c 100644
--- a/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.cpp
+++ b/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.cpp
@@ -23,16 +23,8 @@
 
 #include "proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.hpp"
 #include "proc/mobject/session/session-service-mock-index.hpp"
-//#include "lib/util.hpp"
-
-//#include <iostream>
-//#include <string>
-
-//using util::isSameObject;
-//using lumiera::Time;
-//using std::string;
-//using std::cout;
-//using std::endl;
+#include "proc/mobject/session/session-service-explore-scope.hpp"
+#include "proc/mobject/session/scope-query.hpp"
 
 
 namespace mobject {
@@ -90,4 +82,18 @@ namespace test    {
   }
   
   
+  /** @note this test helper only works if build_testScopes is invoked
+   *  beforehand, and the returned smart-ptr to the created test/dummy index
+   *  is retained. Moreover, this function makes assumptions about the actual
+   *  objects created by the former test function.
+   *  @throw lumiera::error::Invalid if the intended start element doesn't exist (anymore)
+   */
+  PlacementMO&
+  retrieve_startElm()
+  {
+    return *ContentsQuery<TestSubMO1>(SessionServiceExploreScope::getResolver()
+                                     ,SessionServiceExploreScope::getScopeRoot());
+  }
+  
+  
 }}} // namespace mobject::session::test
diff --git a/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.hpp b/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.hpp
index 24147c399..a95da5bde 100644
--- a/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.hpp
+++ b/tests/components/proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.hpp
@@ -25,22 +25,10 @@
 #define MOBJECT_SESSION_TEST_TEST_SCOPES_H
 
 
-//#include "lib/lumitime.hpp"
-//#include "proc/mobject/placement-ref.hpp"
-#include "proc/mobject/session/test-scopes.hpp"
 #include "proc/mobject/test-dummy-mobject.hpp"
 #include "proc/mobject/session/placement-index.hpp"
-//#include "lib/util.hpp"
 
 #include <tr1/memory>
-//#include <iostream>
-//#include <string>
-
-//using util::isSameObject;
-//using lumiera::Time;
-//using std::string;
-//using std::cout;
-//using std::endl;
 
 
 namespace mobject {
@@ -48,7 +36,7 @@ namespace session {
 namespace test    {
   
   using std::tr1::shared_ptr;
-
+  
   using namespace mobject::test;
   typedef TestPlacement<DummyMO> PDum;
   
@@ -67,5 +55,11 @@ namespace test    {
   PPIdx build_testScopes();
   
   
+  /** complement to the helper: retrieve one of the dummy placements
+   *  which is a Placement<> and way down into the hierarchy
+   */
+  PlacementMO& retrieve_startElm();
+  
+  
 }}} // namespace mobject::session::test
 #endif