diff --git a/features/steps/actor_subgraph_cycle_detection_steps.py b/features/steps/actor_subgraph_cycle_detection_steps.py
index eaa55185f..5222858a1 100644
--- a/features/steps/actor_subgraph_cycle_detection_steps.py
+++ b/features/steps/actor_subgraph_cycle_detection_steps.py
@@ -199,3 +199,22 @@ def step_actor_subgraph_refs_map(context: Context, node: str, ref: str) -> None:
     assert refs.get(node) == ref, (
         f"Expected subgraph_refs[{node!r}] == {ref!r}, got {refs}"
     )
+
+
+@then('the compiled node "{node_id}" should have subgraph set to "{expected_ref}"')
+def step_compiled_node_has_subgraph(
+    context: Context, node_id: str, expected_ref: str
+) -> None:
+    """Assert that the compiled node config has the correct subgraph value."""
+    assert context.compiled is not None
+    node = context.compiled.nodes.get(node_id)
+    assert node is not None, (
+        f"Compiled node {node_id!r} not found. Available nodes: "
+        f"{list(context.compiled.nodes.keys())}"
+    )
+    actual_subgraph = getattr(node, "subgraph", None)
+    assert actual_subgraph == expected_ref, (
+        f"Expected NodeConfig.subgraph[{node_id!r}] == {expected_ref!r}, "
+        f"got {actual_subgraph!r}. This indicates the compiler reads actor_ref "
+        f"from config.get() instead of node.actor_ref (issue #1429)."
+    )