diff --git a/surfsense_backend/tests/unit/platforms/tiktok/test_listing_retry.py b/surfsense_backend/tests/unit/platforms/tiktok/test_listing_retry.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2676a2267
--- /dev/null
+++ b/surfsense_backend/tests/unit/platforms/tiktok/test_listing_retry.py
@@ -0,0 +1,60 @@
+"""Retry-on-empty for the browser ``item_list`` seam (no browser, fake fetch).
+
+``fetch_item_list`` re-fetches an empty capture up to ``TIKTOK_LISTING_MAX_ATTEMPTS``
+so a flagged rotating exit IP on the first draw doesn't collapse straight to an
+``ErrorItem``. These drive that loop deterministically by faking ``_fetch_sync``.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from app.proprietary.platforms.tiktok.session import listing
+
+
+class _Fake:
+    """Returns each queued result once, repeating the last; counts calls."""
+
+    def __init__(self, results: list[list[dict]]):
+        self.results = results
+        self.calls = 0
+
+    def __call__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        out = self.results[min(self.calls, len(self.results) - 1)]
+        self.calls += 1
+        return out
+
+
+def _patch(monkeypatch, fake: _Fake, attempts: int) -> None:
+    monkeypatch.setattr(listing, "_fetch_sync", fake)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(listing.config, "TIKTOK_LISTING_MAX_ATTEMPTS", attempts)
+
+
+async def test_returns_first_nonempty_without_retrying(monkeypatch):
+    fake = _Fake([[{"id": "1"}]])
+    _patch(monkeypatch, fake, 3)
+    items = await listing.fetch_item_list("https://tt/@x", 5)
+    assert items == [{"id": "1"}]
+    assert fake.calls == 1  # a draw with items never retries
+
+
+async def test_retries_past_empty_draws_then_hits(monkeypatch):
+    fake = _Fake([[], [], [{"id": "9"}]])
+    _patch(monkeypatch, fake, 3)
+    items = await listing.fetch_item_list("https://tt/@x", 5)
+    assert items == [{"id": "9"}]
+    assert fake.calls == 3  # two empty (flagged-IP) draws retried, third lands
+
+
+async def test_stops_at_attempt_ceiling_when_always_empty(monkeypatch):
+    fake = _Fake([[]])
+    _patch(monkeypatch, fake, 3)
+    items = await listing.fetch_item_list("https://tt/@x", 5)
+    assert items == []
+    assert fake.calls == 3  # capped; caller then emits the ErrorItem
+
+
+async def test_single_attempt_config_disables_retry(monkeypatch):
+    fake = _Fake([[]])
+    _patch(monkeypatch, fake, 1)
+    items = await listing.fetch_item_list("https://tt/@x", 5)
+    assert items == []
+    assert fake.calls == 1  # static-IP setups opt out via attempts=1