diff --git a/test/e2e-go/features/incentives/payouts_test.go b/test/e2e-go/features/incentives/payouts_test.go
index 28fc91089e..7c4cc32aac 100644
--- a/test/e2e-go/features/incentives/payouts_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e-go/features/incentives/payouts_test.go
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ func TestBasicPayouts(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 
 		next, err := client.AccountData(block.Proposer().String())
+		a.NoError(err)
 		a.LessOrEqual(int(status.LastRound), int(next.LastProposed))
 		// regardless of proposer, nobody gets paid
 		switch block.Proposer().String() {
@@ -137,6 +138,12 @@ func TestBasicPayouts(t *testing.T) {
 		a.NoError(err)
 	}
 
+	// all nodes are in sync
+	for _, c := range []libgoal.Client{c15, c01, relay} {
+		_, err := c.WaitForRound(status.LastRound)
+		a.NoError(err)
+	}
+
 	// Wait until each have proposed, so we can see that 01 gets paid and 15 does not (too much balance)
 	proposed01 := false
 	proposed15 := false
@@ -148,13 +155,17 @@ func TestBasicPayouts(t *testing.T) {
 		a.EqualValues(bonus1, block.Bonus.Raw)
 
 		next, err := client.AccountData(block.Proposer().String())
+		a.NoError(err)
 		fmt.Printf(" proposer %v has %d after proposing round %d\n", block.Proposer(), next.MicroAlgos.Raw, status.LastRound)
 
 		// all nodes agree the proposer proposed
 		for i, c := range []libgoal.Client{c15, c01, relay} {
+			_, err := c.WaitForRound(status.LastRound)
+			a.NoError(err)
 			data, err := c.AccountData(block.Proposer().String())
 			a.NoError(err)
-			a.Equal(block.Round(), data.LastProposed, i)
+			// <= in case one node is behind, and the others have already advanced
+			a.LessOrEqual(block.Round(), data.LastProposed, i)
 		}
 
 		// 01 would get paid (because under balance cap) 15 would not
@@ -211,14 +222,21 @@ func TestBasicPayouts(t *testing.T) {
 		a.NoError(err)
 
 		for _, c := range []libgoal.Client{c15, c01, relay} {
+			_, err := c.WaitForRound(status.LastRound)
+			a.NoError(err)
 			data, err = c.AccountData(block.Proposer().String())
 			a.NoError(err)
-			a.Equal(block.Round(), data.LastProposed)
-			a.Equal(pdata, data)
+			// <= in case one node is behind, and the others have already advanced
+			a.LessOrEqual(block.Round(), data.LastProposed)
+			// <= in case one node is behind, and the others have already advanced
+			a.LessOrEqual(pdata.MicroAlgos.Raw, data.MicroAlgos.Raw)
+			a.Equal(pdata.Status, data.Status)
+			a.True(data.IncentiveEligible)
 
 			data, err = c.AccountData(feesink.String())
 			a.NoError(err)
-			a.Equal(fdata, data)
+			// >= in case one node is behind, and the others have already advanced
+			a.GreaterOrEqual(fdata.MicroAlgos.Raw, data.MicroAlgos.Raw)
 		}
 		a.LessOrEqual(100000, int(data.MicroAlgos.Raw)) // won't go below minfee
 		if data.MicroAlgos.Raw == 100000 {
@@ -270,6 +288,7 @@ func TestBasicPayouts(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// account is gone anyway (it didn't get paid)
 	data, err = relay.AccountData(account01.Address)
+	a.NoError(err)
 	a.Zero(data, "%+v", data)
 
 	data, err = relay.AccountData(feesink.String())
diff --git a/test/e2e-go/features/incentives/suspension_test.go b/test/e2e-go/features/incentives/suspension_test.go
index 3d3f0954f6..9be9cade6b 100644
--- a/test/e2e-go/features/incentives/suspension_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e-go/features/incentives/suspension_test.go
@@ -155,11 +155,13 @@ func TestBasicSuspension(t *testing.T) {
 		stat, err = lg.WaitForRound(stat.LastRound + 1)
 		a.NoError(err)
 		attempts++
-		a.Less(attempts, suspend20, "n20 didn't propose\n")
+		a.Less(attempts, 2*suspend20, "n20 didn't propose\n")
 	}
 	// paranoia. see payouts_test.go for more details.
 	r := require.New(t)
 	for i, c := range []libgoal.Client{c10, c20} {
+		_, err := c.WaitForRound(stat.LastRound)
+		r.NoError(err)
 		account, err = c.AccountData(account20.Address)
 		a.NoError(err)
 		r.Equal(basics.Online, account.Status, i)