diff --git a/tezt/tests/cloud/dal.ml b/tezt/tests/cloud/dal.ml
index 9d1bac2d25a4ae150487b88777debd8f128dccd8..ad87e4c10dea44a74892a243c5602efefd42dfc6 100644
--- a/tezt/tests/cloud/dal.ml
+++ b/tezt/tests/cloud/dal.ml
@@ -4852,7 +4852,7 @@ let register (module Cli : Scenarios_cli.Dal) =
   let configuration, etherlink_configuration =
     let stake_machine_type = Cli.stake_machine_type in
     let dal_node_producers =
-      let last_index = ref 0 in
+      let last_index = ref (-1) in
       List.init Cli.producers (fun i ->
           match List.nth_opt Cli.dal_producers_slot_indices i with
           | None ->