diff --git a/tests-extra/tests/zone/older_soa/test.py b/tests-extra/tests/zone/older_soa/test.py
index cc43b8caa..212be5ac2 100644
--- a/tests-extra/tests/zone/older_soa/test.py
+++ b/tests-extra/tests/zone/older_soa/test.py
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ master.update_zonefile(zone, version=1)
 master.stop()
 master.start()
 t.sleep(2)
-slave.ctl("zone-refresh", wait=True)
+slave.ctl("zone-refresh") # the refresh should fail -> no blocking mode, no error
+t.sleep(2)
 
 resp = master.dig("added.example.", "A")
 resp.check(rcode="NXDOMAIN")
diff --git a/tests-extra/tests/zone/reload/test.py b/tests-extra/tests/zone/reload/test.py
index 73a942f32..cbcf401e5 100644
--- a/tests-extra/tests/zone/reload/test.py
+++ b/tests-extra/tests/zone/reload/test.py
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ def reload_zone(version, exp_serial, exp_version, msg):
     if opt == 1:
         master.reload()
     if opt == 2:
-        master.ctl("zone-reload " + zone[0].name, wait=True)
+        master.ctl("zone-reload " + zone[0].name) # the reload should fail -> no blocking mode, no error
+        t.sleep(2)
     if opt == 3:
         master.ctl("-f zone-reload " + zone[0].name, wait=True)
         t.sleep(1) # forced zone-reload does *only schedule* LOAD event