diff --git a/tests/src/core/testqgsmeshlayer.cpp b/tests/src/core/testqgsmeshlayer.cpp
index 7b1e8980ab99..2ec1da0b630f 100644
--- a/tests/src/core/testqgsmeshlayer.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/core/testqgsmeshlayer.cpp
@@ -2423,10 +2423,17 @@ void TestQgsMeshLayer::testMinimumMaximumActiveScalarDataset()
     QStringLiteral( "mdal" )
   );
   QVERIFY( layer.isValid() );
-  layer.updateTriangularMesh();
 
   datasetIndex = QgsMeshDatasetIndex( 0, 0 );
 
+  // if triangular mesh does not exist cannot extract values
+  extent = layer.extent();
+  found = layer.minimumMaximumActiveScalarDataset( extent, datasetIndex, min, max );
+  QCOMPARE( found, false );
+
+  // crete triangular mesh for layer
+  layer.updateTriangularMesh();
+
   // tests for basic dataset
   extent = layer.extent();
   found = layer.minimumMaximumActiveScalarDataset( extent, datasetIndex, min, max );