diff --git a/backend/tests/test_admin_api.py b/backend/tests/test_admin_api.py
index 063e219..6bb819d 100644
--- a/backend/tests/test_admin_api.py
+++ b/backend/tests/test_admin_api.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ from sqlalchemy import select
 from deps.auth import get_current_admin
 from deps.db import get_db
 from services.auth import hash_password
+from tests.test_auth_api import FakeRedis
 
 
 # ── Helpers ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -70,17 +71,26 @@ async def make_regular_user(session: AsyncSession) -> User:
 
 @pytest_asyncio.fixture
 async def admin_client(db_session: AsyncSession):
-    """Async client with get_current_admin overridden to an admin user."""
+    """Async client with get_current_admin overridden to an admin user.
+
+    Phase 7.2: app.state.redis is set to a FakeRedis() instance so that
+    the admin deactivation handler (post-Wave 2) can call
+    request.app.state.redis.set(...) without AttributeError.
+    """
     from main import app
 
     admin = await make_admin_user(db_session)
     app.dependency_overrides[get_db] = lambda: db_session
     app.dependency_overrides[get_current_admin] = lambda: admin
+    # Phase 7.2: mount FakeRedis for deactivation handler NBF write
+    app.state.redis = FakeRedis()
 
     async with AsyncClient(transport=ASGITransport(app=app), base_url="http://test") as c:
         yield c, admin, db_session
 
     app.dependency_overrides.clear()
+    # Reset redis to avoid leaking state between test files (mirrors authed_client teardown)
+    app.state.redis = None
 
 
 # ── Tests ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -429,3 +439,64 @@ async def test_delete_user_no_body(admin_client):
 
     resp = await client.delete(f"/api/admin/users/{target.id}")
     assert resp.status_code == 422
+
+
+# ── Phase 7.2 Wave 0 stubs: NBF-write on admin deactivation ──────────────────
+# These two tests are xfailed with strict=False. When Wave 2 (Plan 03) adds
+# user_nbf write to the admin deactivation handler, these stubs are promoted
+# by replacing `assert False, "stub"` with real Redis key assertions.
+#
+# Invariant preserved in Wave 2: activation (is_active=True) must NOT write
+# user_nbf — only deactivation writes it (RESEARCH.md anti-pattern).
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=False, reason="Phase 7.2 Wave 2 — user_nbf write not yet added to admin deactivation handler")
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_deactivate_user_writes_user_nbf_to_redis(admin_client):
+    """PATCH /api/admin/users/{id}/status {is_active: false} must write user_nbf:{id} to Redis."""
+    client, _admin, session = admin_client
+    target = await make_regular_user(session)
+
+    resp = await client.patch(
+        f"/api/admin/users/{target.id}/status",
+        json={"is_active": False},
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+
+    # Wave 2 will add the user_nbf write; this is the target assertion:
+    assert False, "stub — Wave 2 will fill in: nbf_bytes = await app.state.redis.get(f'user_nbf:{target.id}'); assert nbf_bytes is not None"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.xfail(strict=False, reason="Phase 7.2 Wave 2 — activation must NOT write user_nbf (invariant guard)")
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_activate_user_does_not_write_user_nbf(admin_client):
+    """PATCH /api/admin/users/{id}/status {is_active: true} must NOT write user_nbf:{id} to Redis.
+
+    Anti-pattern from RESEARCH.md: do not write user_nbf for successful activation.
+    This negative-guard test ensures Wave 2 only writes on deactivation, not activation.
+    """
+    from main import app
+
+    client, _admin, session = admin_client
+    target = await make_regular_user(session)
+
+    # Deactivate first (sets is_active=False)
+    await client.patch(
+        f"/api/admin/users/{target.id}/status",
+        json={"is_active": False},
+    )
+
+    # Clear any nbf that may have been set by deactivation
+    fake_redis = app.state.redis
+    if hasattr(fake_redis, "_store"):
+        fake_redis._store.pop(f"user_nbf:{target.id}", None)
+
+    # Now activate (is_active=True) — must NOT set user_nbf
+    resp = await client.patch(
+        f"/api/admin/users/{target.id}/status",
+        json={"is_active": True},
+    )
+    assert resp.status_code == 200
+
+    # Wave 2 must preserve this invariant; this is the target assertion:
+    assert False, "stub — Wave 2 will fill in: nbf_bytes = await app.state.redis.get(f'user_nbf:{target.id}'); assert nbf_bytes is None"