diff --git a/tests/test_immediate.cpp b/tests/test_immediate.cpp
index 3c150d79..d0fbaaf6 100644
--- a/tests/test_immediate.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_immediate.cpp
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ int main (void)
     rc = zmq_connect (from, "tcp://localhost:6555");
     assert (rc == 0);
 
+    msleep (SETTLE_TIME);
+
     // We send 10 messages, 5 should just get stuck in the queue
     // for the not-yet-connected pipe
     for (int i = 0; i < 10; ++i) {
diff --git a/tests/test_spec_rep.cpp b/tests/test_spec_rep.cpp
index 75274554..1b2de517 100644
--- a/tests/test_spec_rep.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_spec_rep.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ void test_fair_queue_in (void *ctx)
         assert (rc == 0);
     }
 
+    msleep (SETTLE_TIME);
+
     s_send_seq (reqs [0], "A", SEQ_END);
     s_recv_seq (rep, "A", SEQ_END);
     s_send_seq (rep, "A", SEQ_END);
diff --git a/tests/test_spec_router.cpp b/tests/test_spec_router.cpp
index 6d47927a..fadecdfe 100644
--- a/tests/test_spec_router.cpp
+++ b/tests/test_spec_router.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ void test_fair_queue_in (void *ctx)
         assert (rc == 0);
     }
 
+    msleep (SETTLE_TIME);
+
     zmq_msg_t msg;
     rc = zmq_msg_init (&msg);
     assert (rc == 0);