diff --git a/spec/system/admin/order_cycles/simple_spec.rb b/spec/system/admin/order_cycles/simple_spec.rb
index 29dfba4af8..0d2be4f125 100644
--- a/spec/system/admin/order_cycles/simple_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/admin/order_cycles/simple_spec.rb
@@ -395,17 +395,41 @@ describe '
           ex_out.save!
 
           # hide via inventory settings variant v1
-          supplier_managed.update preferred_product_selection_from_inventory_only: true
+          distributor_managed.update preferred_product_selection_from_inventory_only: true
           oc.update prefers_product_selection_from_coordinator_inventory_only: false
         end
 
-        it "shows a warning when going to 'outgoing products' tab" do
-          visit edit_admin_order_cycle_path(oc)
-          click_link "Outgoing Products"
-          within "tr.distributor-#{distributor_managed.id}" do
-            page.find("td.products").click
+        shared_examples "inventory warning" do
+          |inventory_visible, inventory_only, it_description, expect_message|
+          before do
+            # hides/displays variant within coordinator's inventory
+            inventory_item_v1.update!(visible: inventory_visible)
+            # changes coordinator's inventory preferences
+            supplier_managed.update preferred_product_selection_from_inventory_only: inventory_only
           end
-          expect(page).to have_content "(Some variants might be hidden via inventory settings)"
+
+          it "#{it_description} a warning when going to 'outgoing products' tab" do
+            visit edit_admin_order_cycle_path(oc)
+            click_link "Outgoing Products"
+            within "tr.distributor-#{distributor_managed.id}" do
+              page.find("td.products").click
+            end
+
+            # we need this assertion here to assure there is enough time to
+            # toggle the variant box and evaluate the following assertion
+            expect(page).to have_content product.name.upcase
+
+            # iterates between true / false, depending on the test case
+            expectation = expect_message ? :to : :not_to
+            expect(page).public_send(expectation,
+                                     have_content(%(No variant available for this product
+                (hidden via inventory settings)).squish))
+          end
+        end
+
+        it_behaves_like "inventory warning", false, true, "shows", true
+        it_behaves_like "inventory warning", false, false, "does not show", false do
+          before { pending("#11851") }
         end
       end