diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yaml b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
index 105780ac48..a5cc9433fa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yaml
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v6
       - uses: actions/setup-go@v6
-        with: { go-version: stable }
+        with: { go-version: '1.25.x' } # TODO: revert to stable when kuttl supports Go 1.26 (missing testDeps.ModulePath)
 
       - name: Start k3s
         uses: ./.github/actions/k3d
diff --git a/testing/kuttl/e2e/otel-logging-and-metrics/22-assert-instance.yaml b/testing/kuttl/e2e/otel-logging-and-metrics/22-assert-instance.yaml
index 226bcce3cd..60e5fe5694 100644
--- a/testing/kuttl/e2e/otel-logging-and-metrics/22-assert-instance.yaml
+++ b/testing/kuttl/e2e/otel-logging-and-metrics/22-assert-instance.yaml
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ commands:
 # First, check that all containers in the instance pod are ready.
 # Then, grab the collector metrics output and check that a postgres 
 # metric is present, as well as a patroni metric.
+# Then use psql to run a bad command in the database to get an error
+# and ensure that there is a postgres log to capture.
 # Then, check the collector logs for patroni, and postgres logs.
 # Finally, ensure the monitoring user exists and is configured.
 - script: |
@@ -35,6 +37,8 @@ commands:
       exit 1
     }
 
+    kubectl exec "${pod}" -n "${NAMESPACE}" -- psql -c "SHOW DOES_NOT_EXIST;" 2>/dev/null || true
+
     logs=$(kubectl logs "${pod}" --namespace "${NAMESPACE}" -c collector | grep InstrumentationScope)
     { contains "${logs}" 'InstrumentationScope patroni'; } || {
       retry "patroni logs not found"