diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index 365a838d81..510d0c088a 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+4902.	[test]		Improved the reliability of the 'ixfr' system
+			test. [GL #66]
+
 4901.	[func]		"dig +nssearch" now lists the name servers
 			for a domain that time out, as well as the servers
 			that respond. [GL #64]
diff --git a/bin/tests/system/ixfr/tests.sh b/bin/tests/system/ixfr/tests.sh
index c3ebfdc31d..817ce4f909 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/ixfr/tests.sh
+++ b/bin/tests/system/ixfr/tests.sh
@@ -147,16 +147,39 @@ fi
 #echo_i "digging against slave: "
 #$DIG $DIGOPTS @10.53.0.4 a host1.test.
 
-cp ns3/mytest1.db ns3/mytest.db
-$RNDCCMD 10.53.0.3 reload
-
+# wait for slave to be stable
 for i in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
 do
 	$DIG $DIGOPTS +tcp @10.53.0.4 SOA test > dig.out
+	grep -i "hostmaster\.test\..1" dig.out > /dev/null && break
+	sleep 1
+done
+
+# modify the master
+cp ns3/mytest1.db ns3/mytest.db
+$RNDCCMD 10.53.0.3 reload
+
+#wait for master to reload load
+for i in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
+do
+	$DIG $DIGOPTS +tcp @10.53.0.3 SOA test > dig.out
 	grep -i "hostmaster\.test\..2" dig.out > /dev/null && break
 	sleep 1
 done
 
+#wait for slave to transfer zone
+for i in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
+do
+	$DIG $DIGOPTS +tcp @10.53.0.4 SOA test > dig.out
+	grep -i "hostmaster\.test\..2" dig.out > /dev/null && break
+
+	# re-notify if we've been waiting a long time
+	if [ $i -ge 5 ]; then
+	    $RNDCCMD 10.53.0.3 notify test | set 's/^/ns3 /' | cat_i
+	fi
+	sleep 1
+done
+
 # slave should have gotten notify and updated
 
 for i in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
@@ -181,10 +204,24 @@ echo_i " this result should be AXFR"
 cp ns3/subtest1.db ns3/subtest.db # change to sub.test zone, should be AXFR
 $RNDCCMD 10.53.0.3 reload
 
+#wait for master to reload zone
 for i in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
+do
+	$DIG $DIGOPTS +tcp @10.53.0.3 SOA sub.test > dig.out
+	grep -i "hostmaster\.test\..3" dig.out > /dev/null && break
+	sleep 1
+done
+
+#wait for slave to transfer zone
+for i in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
 do
 	$DIG $DIGOPTS +tcp @10.53.0.4 SOA sub.test > dig.out
 	grep -i "hostmaster\.test\..3" dig.out > /dev/null && break
+
+	# re-notify if we've been waiting a long time
+	if [ $i -ge 5 ]; then
+	    $RNDCCMD 10.53.0.3 notify sub.test | set 's/^/ns3 /' | cat_i
+	fi
 	sleep 1
 done
 
@@ -207,10 +244,24 @@ echo_i " this result should be IXFR"
 cp ns3/mytest2.db ns3/mytest.db # change to test zone, should be IXFR
 $RNDCCMD 10.53.0.3 reload
 
+# wait for master to reload zone
 for i in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
+do
+	$DIG +tcp -p 5300 @10.53.0.3 SOA test > dig.out
+	grep -i "hostmaster\.test\..4" dig.out > /dev/null && break
+	sleep 1
+done
+
+# wait for slave to transfer zone
+for i in 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
 do
 	$DIG $DIGOPTS +tcp @10.53.0.4 SOA test > dig.out
 	grep -i "hostmaster\.test\..4" dig.out > /dev/null && break
+
+	# re-notify if we've been waiting a long time
+	if [ $i -ge 5 ]; then
+	    $RNDCCMD 10.53.0.3 notify test | set 's/^/ns3 /' | cat_i
+	fi
 	sleep 1
 done