diff --git a/testcases/t/001-tile.t b/testcases/t/001-tile.t
index 460cbd90..65af8d74 100644
--- a/testcases/t/001-tile.t
+++ b/testcases/t/001-tile.t
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ is_deeply($window->rect, $original_rect, "rect unmodified before mapping");
 
 $window->map;
 
-sleep(0.25);
+sleep(0.5);
 
 my $new_rect = $window->rect;
 ok(!eq_hash($new_rect, $original_rect), "Window got repositioned");
diff --git a/testcases/t/127-regress-floating-parent.t b/testcases/t/127-regress-floating-parent.t
index 52b8b9c0..c83c0809 100644
--- a/testcases/t/127-regress-floating-parent.t
+++ b/testcases/t/127-regress-floating-parent.t
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@ cmd 'open';
 my $floating = get_focused($tmp);
 diag("focused floating: " . get_focused($tmp));
 cmd 'mode toggle';
-# TODO: eliminate this race conditition
-sleep 1;
+sync_with_i3;
 
 # kill old container
 cmd qq|[con_id="$old"] focus|;
@@ -33,7 +32,7 @@ cmd 'kill';
 cmd qq|[con_id="$floating"] focus|;
 is(get_focused($tmp), $floating, 'floating window focused');
 
-sleep 1;
+sync_with_i3;
 cmd 'mode toggle';
 
 does_i3_live;
diff --git a/testcases/t/129-focus-after-close.t b/testcases/t/129-focus-after-close.t
index 3913f4c6..5fc3786e 100644
--- a/testcases/t/129-focus-after-close.t
+++ b/testcases/t/129-focus-after-close.t
@@ -42,9 +42,8 @@ isnt(get_focused($tmp), $second, 'different container focused');
 ##############################################################
 
 cmd 'kill';
-# TODO: this testcase sometimes has different outcomes when the
-# sleep is missing. why?
-sleep 0.25;
+sync_with_i3;
+
 ($nodes, $focus) = get_ws_content($tmp);
 is($nodes->[1]->{nodes}->[0]->{id}, $second, 'second container found');
 ok($nodes->[1]->{nodes}->[0]->{focused}, 'second container focused');
@@ -103,8 +102,7 @@ my $win = open_window({ background_color => '#00ff00' });
 
 cmd qq|[con_id="$middle"] focus|;
 $win->destroy;
-
-sleep 0.25;
+sync_with_i3;
 
 is(get_focused($tmp), $middle, 'middle container focused');
 
diff --git a/testcases/t/147-regress-floatingmove.t b/testcases/t/147-regress-floatingmove.t
index ed85b57b..5a2c87d3 100644
--- a/testcases/t/147-regress-floatingmove.t
+++ b/testcases/t/147-regress-floatingmove.t
@@ -6,6 +6,11 @@
 #
 use i3test;
 
+sub sync_cmd {
+    cmd @_;
+    sync_with_i3;
+}
+
 my $tmp = fresh_workspace;
 
 my $left = open_window;
@@ -13,23 +18,19 @@ my $mid = open_window;
 my $right = open_window;
 
 # go to workspace level
-cmd 'level up';
-sleep 0.25;
+sync_cmd 'level up';
 
 # make it floating
-cmd 'mode toggle';
-sleep 0.25;
+sync_cmd 'mode toggle';
 
 # move the con outside the floating con
-cmd 'move up';
-sleep 0.25;
+sync_cmd 'move up';
 
 does_i3_live;
 
 # move another con outside
-cmd '[id="' . $mid->id . '"] focus';
-cmd 'move up';
-sleep 0.25;
+sync_cmd '[id="' . $mid->id . '"] focus';
+sync_cmd 'move up';
 
 does_i3_live;
 
diff --git a/testcases/t/148-regress-floatingmovews.t b/testcases/t/148-regress-floatingmovews.t
index 44d5a445..3d71b500 100644
--- a/testcases/t/148-regress-floatingmovews.t
+++ b/testcases/t/148-regress-floatingmovews.t
@@ -10,20 +10,18 @@ my $tmp = fresh_workspace;
 
 # open a tiling window on the first workspace
 open_window;
-#sleep 0.25;
 my $first = get_focused($tmp);
 
 # on a different ws, open a floating window
 my $otmp = fresh_workspace;
 open_window;
-#sleep 0.25;
 my $float = get_focused($otmp);
 cmd 'mode toggle';
-#sleep 0.25;
+sync_with_i3;
 
 # move the floating con to first workspace
 cmd "move workspace $tmp";
-#sleep 0.25;
+sync_with_i3;
 
 # switch to the first ws and check focus
 is(get_focused($tmp), $float, 'floating client correctly focused');
diff --git a/testcases/t/168-regress-fullscreen-restart.t b/testcases/t/168-regress-fullscreen-restart.t
index 74d284db..27812565 100644
--- a/testcases/t/168-regress-fullscreen-restart.t
+++ b/testcases/t/168-regress-fullscreen-restart.t
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ open_window;
 open_window;
 
 cmd 'layout stacking';
-sleep 1;
+sync_with_i3;
 
 cmd 'fullscreen';
-sleep 1;
+sync_with_i3;
 
 cmd 'restart';
 sleep 1;