diff --git a/eth/handler_eth_test.go b/eth/handler_eth_test.go
index 534b72b865..c35bf0f4ce 100644
--- a/eth/handler_eth_test.go
+++ b/eth/handler_eth_test.go
@@ -633,6 +633,9 @@ func testBroadcastBlock(t *testing.T, peers, bcasts int) {
 		go source.handler.runEthPeer(sourcePeer, func(peer *eth.Peer) error {
 			return eth.Handle((*ethHandler)(source.handler), peer)
 		})
+		// Wait a bit for the above handlers to start
+		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+
 		if err := sinkPeer.Handshake(1, td, genesis.Hash(), genesis.Hash(), forkid.NewIDWithChain(source.chain), forkid.NewFilter(source.chain), nil); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("failed to run protocol handshake")
 		}
diff --git a/eth/sync_test.go b/eth/sync_test.go
index d846e06abb..195d2fd2ae 100644
--- a/eth/sync_test.go
+++ b/eth/sync_test.go
@@ -151,6 +151,8 @@ func testChainSyncWithBlobs(t *testing.T, mode downloader.SyncMode, preCancunBlk
 	go full.handler.runEthPeer(fullPeerEth, func(peer *eth.Peer) error {
 		return eth.Handle((*ethHandler)(full.handler), peer)
 	})
+	// Wait a bit for the above handlers to start
+	time.Sleep(250 * time.Millisecond)
 
 	emptyPipeSnap, fullPipeSnap := p2p.MsgPipe()
 	defer emptyPipeSnap.Close()