diff --git a/testcases/lib/i3test.pm.in b/testcases/lib/i3test.pm.in
index 5b24ab39..1e4eea75 100644
--- a/testcases/lib/i3test.pm.in
+++ b/testcases/lib/i3test.pm.in
@@ -350,6 +350,12 @@ sub open_window {
 
     $window->map;
     wait_for_map($window);
+
+    # MapWindow is sent before i3 even starts rendering: the window is placed at
+    # temporary off-screen coordinates first, and x_push_changes() sends further
+    # X11 requests to set focus etc. Hence, we sync with i3 before continuing.
+    sync_with_i3();
+
     return $window;
 }
 
@@ -688,6 +694,7 @@ sub sync_with_i3 {
         $_sync_window = open_window(
             rect => [ -15, -15, 10, 10 ],
             override_redirect => 1,
+            dont_map => 1,
         );
     }
 
diff --git a/testcases/t/219-ipc-window-focus.t b/testcases/t/219-ipc-window-focus.t
index 5baf68a8..b1c8ba18 100644
--- a/testcases/t/219-ipc-window-focus.t
+++ b/testcases/t/219-ipc-window-focus.t
@@ -44,11 +44,11 @@ sub focus_subtest {
     is($events[0]->{container}->{name}, $name, "$name focused");
 }
 
-subtest 'focus left (1)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus left', 'Window 1';
-subtest 'focus left (2)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus left', 'Window 0';
-subtest 'focus right (1)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus right', 'Window 1';
-subtest 'focus right (2)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus right', 'Window 2';
-subtest 'focus right (3)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus right', 'Window 0';
-subtest 'focus left', \&focus_subtest, 'focus left', 'Window 2';
+subtest 'focus left (1)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus left', $win1->name;
+subtest 'focus left (2)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus left', $win0->name;
+subtest 'focus right (1)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus right', $win1->name;
+subtest 'focus right (2)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus right', $win2->name;
+subtest 'focus right (3)', \&focus_subtest, 'focus right', $win0->name;
+subtest 'focus left', \&focus_subtest, 'focus left', $win2->name;
 
 done_testing;