diff --git a/certbot-compatibility-test/certbot_compatibility_test/configurators/apache/common.py b/certbot-compatibility-test/certbot_compatibility_test/configurators/apache/common.py
index 0c53058de..4e612bbd5 100644
--- a/certbot-compatibility-test/certbot_compatibility_test/configurators/apache/common.py
+++ b/certbot-compatibility-test/certbot_compatibility_test/configurators/apache/common.py
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class Proxy(configurators_common.Proxy):
         self._prepare_configurator()
 
         try:
-            subprocess.check_call("apachectl -k start".split())
+            subprocess.check_call("apachectl -k restart".split())
         except errors.Error:
             raise errors.Error(
                 "Apache failed to load {0} before tests started".format(
diff --git a/certbot-compatibility-test/certbot_compatibility_test/configurators/nginx/common.py b/certbot-compatibility-test/certbot_compatibility_test/configurators/nginx/common.py
index 8e2899933..0d72605b7 100644
--- a/certbot-compatibility-test/certbot_compatibility_test/configurators/nginx/common.py
+++ b/certbot-compatibility-test/certbot_compatibility_test/configurators/nginx/common.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class Proxy(configurators_common.Proxy):
         self._prepare_configurator()
 
         try:
-            subprocess.check_call("nginx".split())
+            subprocess.check_call("service nginx reload".split())
         except errors.Error:
             raise errors.Error(
                 "Nginx failed to load {0} before tests started".format(