diff --git a/tests/test_dashboard_auth.py b/tests/test_dashboard_auth.py
index e9836e8..f297778 100644
--- a/tests/test_dashboard_auth.py
+++ b/tests/test_dashboard_auth.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import asyncio
 import sqlite3
+import threading
 import time
 from urllib.parse import parse_qs, urlsplit
 
@@ -1617,13 +1618,18 @@ async def test_sign_in_throttle_lookup_does_not_block_the_event_loop(
 async def test_failed_sign_in_recording_does_not_block_the_event_loop(
     access_control, monkeypatch
 ):
+    recording_started = threading.Event()
+    recording_finished = threading.Event()
+
     class SlowAttempts:
         def retry_after(self, source):
             time.sleep(0.02)
             return 0
 
         def record_failure(self, source):
+            recording_started.set()
             time.sleep(0.15)
+            recording_finished.set()
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(main, "_login_attempt_store", lambda: SlowAttempts())
     transport = httpx.ASGITransport(app=main.app, client=("203.0.113.11", 1234))
@@ -1631,27 +1637,30 @@ async def test_failed_sign_in_recording_does_not_block_the_event_loop(
         sign_in = asyncio.create_task(
             client.post("/api/v1/session", json={"access_token": "wrong"})
         )
+        assert await asyncio.to_thread(recording_started.wait, 1)
         await asyncio.sleep(0)
-        started = time.perf_counter()
-        await asyncio.sleep(0.04)
-        heartbeat_elapsed = time.perf_counter() - started
+        assert not recording_finished.is_set()
         response = await sign_in
 
     assert response.status_code == 401
-    assert heartbeat_elapsed < 0.08
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
 async def test_successful_sign_in_throttle_clear_does_not_block_the_event_loop(
     access_control, monkeypatch
 ):
+    clear_started = threading.Event()
+    clear_finished = threading.Event()
+
     class SlowAttempts:
         def retry_after(self, source):
             time.sleep(0.02)
             return 0
 
         def clear(self, source):
+            clear_started.set()
             time.sleep(0.15)
+            clear_finished.set()
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(main, "_login_attempt_store", lambda: SlowAttempts())
     transport = httpx.ASGITransport(app=main.app, client=("203.0.113.12", 1234))
@@ -1662,14 +1671,12 @@ async def test_successful_sign_in_throttle_clear_does_not_block_the_event_loop(
                 json={"access_token": "correct horse battery staple"},
             )
         )
+        assert await asyncio.to_thread(clear_started.wait, 1)
         await asyncio.sleep(0)
-        started = time.perf_counter()
-        await asyncio.sleep(0.04)
-        heartbeat_elapsed = time.perf_counter() - started
+        assert not clear_finished.is_set()
         response = await sign_in
 
     assert response.status_code == 200
-    assert heartbeat_elapsed < 0.08
 
 
 @pytest.mark.anyio
diff --git a/tests/test_notification_read.py b/tests/test_notification_read.py
index 731d13a..3826e91 100644
--- a/tests/test_notification_read.py
+++ b/tests/test_notification_read.py
@@ -347,14 +347,14 @@ async def test_bulk_mark_read_cancels_unfinished_work_at_batch_deadline(monkeypa
     monkeypatch.setattr(main, "_read_notification_ids", set())
     monkeypatch.setattr(main, "_live_snapshot_value", None)
     transport = httpx.ASGITransport(app=main.app)
-    started_at = time.monotonic()
     async with httpx.AsyncClient(transport=transport, base_url="http://test") as client:
-        response = await client.patch(
-            "/api/v1/notifications/read", json={"ids": list(range(1, 11))}
+        response = await asyncio.wait_for(
+            client.patch(
+                "/api/v1/notifications/read", json={"ids": list(range(1, 11))}
+            ),
+            timeout=0.5,
         )
-    elapsed = time.monotonic() - started_at
 
-    assert elapsed < 0.06
     assert response.status_code == 200
     assert response.json() == {"marked": [], "failed": list(range(1, 11))}
     assert response.headers["retry-after"] == "1"