diff --git a/tests/test_model_api.py b/tests/test_model_api.py
index 308777198..5957486cd 100644
--- a/tests/test_model_api.py
+++ b/tests/test_model_api.py
@@ -702,16 +702,6 @@ def test_deactivation_endpoint(self):
                               strata=['y', 'o'],
                               cartesian_control=True)
 
-        # Assert that there are old to young transitions
-        transition_list = []
-        for template in age_strata.templates:
-            if hasattr(template, 'subject') and hasattr(template, 'outcome'):
-                subj, outc = template.subject.name, template.outcome.name
-                if subj.endswith('_o') and outc.endswith('_y') or \
-                        subj.endswith('_y') and outc.endswith('_o'):
-                    transition_list.append((subj, outc))
-        assert len(transition_list), "No old to young transitions found"
-
         amr_sir = AskeNetPetriNetModel(Model(age_strata)).to_json()
 
         # Test the endpoint itself
@@ -744,6 +734,15 @@ def test_deactivation_endpoint(self):
         self.assertEqual(422, response.status_code)
 
         # Actual Test
+        # Assert that there are old to young transitions
+        transition_list = []
+        for template in age_strata.templates:
+            if hasattr(template, 'subject') and hasattr(template, 'outcome'):
+                subj, outc = template.subject.name, template.outcome.name
+                if subj.endswith('_o') and outc.endswith('_y') or \
+                        subj.endswith('_y') and outc.endswith('_o'):
+                    transition_list.append((subj, outc))
+        assert len(transition_list), "No old to young transitions found"
         response = self.client.post(
             "/api/deactivate_transitions",
             json={"model": amr_sir, "transitions": transition_list}
@@ -772,10 +771,11 @@ def test_deactivation_endpoint(self):
         tm_deactivated_params = template_model_from_askenet_json(
             amr_sir_deactivated_params)
         for template in tm_deactivated_params.templates:
-            for symb in template.rate_law.atoms():
-                if str(symb) == deactivate_key:
-                    assert (
-                        template.rate_law.rate_law.args[0] ==
-                        sympy.core.numbers.Zero(),
-                        template.rate_law
-                    )
+            # All rate laws must either be zero or not contain the deactivated
+            # parameter
+            if template.rate_law and not template.rate_law.is_zero:
+                for symb in template.rate_law.atoms():
+                    assert str(symb) != deactivate_key
+            else:
+                assert (template.rate_law.args[0] == sympy.core.numbers.Zero(),
+                        template.rate_law)