diff --git a/test-network.sh b/test-network.sh
index 1af2b29..52e3113 100755
--- a/test-network.sh
+++ b/test-network.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ ALICE_IPC=19337
 BOB_IPC=19340
 CHARLIE_IPC=19343
 NETWORK_NAME="test-$(date +%s)"
-DATA_ROOT=$(mktemp -d /tmp/waste-test-XXXXXX)
+DATA_ROOT="/tmp/waste-test"
+rm -rf "$DATA_ROOT"
+mkdir -p "$DATA_ROOT"
 
 # ── cleanup ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 PIDS=()
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ cleanup() {
     done
     wait 2>/dev/null || true
     echo -e "${DIM}data left at: ${DATA_ROOT}${RESET}"
-    echo -e "${DIM}  inspect: sqlite3 ${DATA_ROOT}/alice/messages.db${RESET}"
+    echo -e "${DIM}  inspect: sqlite3 /tmp/waste-test/alice/messages.db${RESET}"
     echo -e "${DIM}done.${RESET}"
 }
 trap cleanup EXIT INT TERM