diff --git a/python/ngen_cal/tests/conftest.py b/python/ngen_cal/tests/conftest.py
index 1cebd170..e3af5da5 100644
--- a/python/ngen_cal/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/python/ngen_cal/tests/conftest.py
@@ -226,9 +226,10 @@ def explicit_catchments(nexus, fabric, workdir) -> Generator[ List[ CalibrationC
 @pytest.fixture
 def multi_model_shared_params() -> Mapping[str, list[Parameter]]:
     p1 = Parameter(name='a', min=0, max=1, init=0)
-    p2 = Parameter(name='a', min=0, max=1, init=0)
+    p2 = Parameter(name='d', min=2, max=3, init=0)
     p3 = Parameter(name='c', min=0, max=1, init=0)
-    params = {'A':[p1], 'B':[p2], 'C':[p3]}
+    p4 = Parameter(name='a', min=0, max=1, init=0)
+    params = {'A':[p1], 'B':[p2, p4], 'C':[p3, p4]}
 
     return params
 
diff --git a/python/ngen_cal/tests/test_params.py b/python/ngen_cal/tests/test_params.py
index a21767e3..bb483c9d 100644
--- a/python/ngen_cal/tests/test_params.py
+++ b/python/ngen_cal/tests/test_params.py
@@ -17,13 +17,16 @@ def test_multi_params(multi_model_shared_params: Mapping[str, list[Parameter]]):
     # create new iteration from old
     params['1'] = params['0']
     #update the parameters by index
-    params.loc['a', '1'] = 0.5
-    pa = params[ params['model'] == 'A' ]
-    pb = params[ params['model'] == 'B' ]
-    pc = params[ params['model'] == 'C' ]
-    assert pa.drop('model', axis=1).equals( pb.drop('model', axis=1) )
+    idx1 = 'a'
+    idx2 = 'c'
+    params.loc[idx1, '1'] = 0.5
+    pa = params[ params['model'] == 'A' ].loc[idx1]
+    pb = params[ params['model'] == 'B' ].loc[idx1]
+    pc = params[ params['model'] == 'C' ].loc[idx2]
+
+    assert pa.drop('model').equals( pb.drop('model') )
     # ensure unique params/alias are not modifed by selection
-    assert pa.loc['a', '1'] != pc.loc['c', '1']
+    assert pa.loc['1'] != pc.loc['1']
 
 def test_multi_params2(multi_model_shared_params2: Mapping[str, list[Parameter]]):
     # This is essentially the path the params go through from