diff --git a/packages/runtime-core/src/provider/host_endpoint/tests.rs b/packages/runtime-core/src/provider/host_endpoint/tests.rs
index 664a892bd..2041accfc 100644
--- a/packages/runtime-core/src/provider/host_endpoint/tests.rs
+++ b/packages/runtime-core/src/provider/host_endpoint/tests.rs
@@ -306,11 +306,11 @@ fn accepted_stream_preserves_payload_and_half_close() {
             peer.write_all(b"reply").unwrap();
         });
         let mut stream = endpoint.connect(Duration::from_secs(2)).unwrap();
-        stream.write_all(b"synthetic endpoint payload").unwrap();
-        stream.shutdown(std::net::Shutdown::Write).unwrap();
         stream
             .set_read_timeout(Some(Duration::from_secs(2)))
             .unwrap();
+        stream.write_all(b"synthetic endpoint payload").unwrap();
+        stream.shutdown(std::net::Shutdown::Write).unwrap();
         let mut response = String::new();
         stream.read_to_string(&mut response).unwrap();
         assert_eq!(response, "reply");
diff --git a/packages/runtime-core/src/provider/relay_owner/managed.rs b/packages/runtime-core/src/provider/relay_owner/managed.rs
index 95fc43f6e..976f6eaa3 100644
--- a/packages/runtime-core/src/provider/relay_owner/managed.rs
+++ b/packages/runtime-core/src/provider/relay_owner/managed.rs
@@ -2361,8 +2361,9 @@ mod tests {
             .unwrap();
         let canceled = Arc::clone(&retry.0.canceled);
         drop(retry);
-        assert!(canceled.load(Ordering::Acquire));
+        // The reactor may still hold the command clone after delivering its reply.
         fixture.owner.verify_alive().unwrap();
+        assert!(canceled.load(Ordering::Acquire));
         assert!(authenticate(&fixture.sockets[0], &fresh.credential).is_err());
         assert!(
             fixture