diff --git a/packaging/nfpm.yaml b/packaging/nfpm.yaml
index c6f5e02..756e371 100644
--- a/packaging/nfpm.yaml
+++ b/packaging/nfpm.yaml
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ contents:
     type: ghost
     file_info:
       mode: 2750
+      group: fenris
 
 scripts:
   preinstall: packaging/preinst.sh
diff --git a/tests/test_packaging.py b/tests/test_packaging.py
index ad690ca..65b50b8 100644
--- a/tests/test_packaging.py
+++ b/tests/test_packaging.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def _container_exec(container: str, cmd: str) -> tuple[int, str]:
     return r.returncode, r.stdout + r.stderr
 
 
-def _find_package(fmt: str, distro: str | None = None) -> Path:
+def _find_package(fmt: str) -> Path:
     """Locate the built package artifact."""
     version = _get_version()
     if fmt == "deb":
@@ -184,22 +184,46 @@ def _assert_dormant_layout(container: str, fmt: str, version: str) -> None:
     assert "device" in out.lower() or "devices" in out.lower() or "#" in out, \
         "Config does not appear to be placeholder-commented"
 
+    if fmt == "rpm":
+        # rpm-native: config marked noreplace (not replaced on upgrade)
+        rc, out = _container_exec(
+            container,
+            "rpm -qc fenris 2>/dev/null | grep fenris.conf || true",
+        )
+        assert "fenris.conf" in out, "fenris.conf not listed as conffile by RPM"
+
     # fenris group exists
     rc, out = _container_exec(container, "getent group fenris")
     assert rc == 0, "fenris group not created"
 
     # Observation store directory
-    if fmt == "deb":
-        rc, out = _container_exec(container, "stat -c '%a %U %G' /var/lib/fenris")
-        assert rc == 0, "Observation store directory not created"
-        parts = out.strip().split()
-        assert parts[0] == "2750", f"Store dir mode: expected 2750, got {parts[0]}"
-        assert parts[1] == "root", f"Store dir owner: expected root, got {parts[1]}"
-        assert parts[2] == "fenris", f"Store dir group: expected fenris, got {parts[2]}"
-    else:
-        # rpm: directory owned by package (ghost)
-        rc, _ = _container_exec(container, "test -d /var/lib/fenris")
-        assert rc == 0, "Observation store directory not found"
+    rc, out = _container_exec(container, "stat -c '%a %U %G' /var/lib/fenris")
+    assert rc == 0, "Observation store directory not created"
+    parts = out.strip().split()
+    assert parts[0] == "2750", f"Store dir mode: expected 2750, got {parts[0]}"
+    assert parts[1] == "root", f"Store dir owner: expected root, got {parts[1]}"
+    assert parts[2] == "fenris", f"Store dir group: expected fenris, got {parts[2]}"
+
+    if fmt == "rpm":
+        # rpm-native: store dir reported as package-owned (ghost),
+        # but no contents are owned by the package
+        rc, out = _container_exec(container, "rpm -qf /var/lib/fenris 2>/dev/null")
+        assert rc == 0, "Store dir not reported as package-owned by RPM"
+        assert "fenris" in out.lower(), f"Store dir not owned by fenris package: {out}"
+
+        # No files inside the store should be package-owned
+        rc, out = _container_exec(
+            container,
+            "find /var/lib/fenris -mindepth 1 -type f -exec rpm -qf {} \\; 2>&1",
+        )
+        # rpm -qf exits 1 for unowned files; we expect all to be unowned
+        owned = [
+            line for line in out.strip().splitlines()
+            if not line.startswith("not owned by any package")
+            and "is not owned by any package" not in line
+            and rc == 0
+        ]
+        assert not owned, f"Store contents owned by RPM (should not be): {owned}"
 
     # Timer is disabled and inactive (dormant)
     rc, out = _container_exec(