diff --git a/tests/quickshell/focus-session-expiry.sh b/tests/quickshell/focus-session-expiry.sh
index b34acf2..178087f 100755
--- a/tests/quickshell/focus-session-expiry.sh
+++ b/tests/quickshell/focus-session-expiry.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,14 @@ chmod --reference="$state_file" "$expired"
 mv "$expired" "$state_file"
 
 qs kill >/dev/null
-qs --daemonize >/dev/null
+for _ in $(seq 1 50); do
+    qs list 2>&1 | rg -q '^Instance ' || break
+    sleep 0.1
+done
+if qs list 2>&1 | rg -q '^Instance '; then
+    fail 'shell did not stop before restart'
+fi
+quickshell --daemonize >/dev/null
 
 status=""
 for _ in $(seq 1 60); do
diff --git a/tests/quickshell/focus-session-restart.sh b/tests/quickshell/focus-session-restart.sh
index 268860d..6bed0ce 100755
--- a/tests/quickshell/focus-session-restart.sh
+++ b/tests/quickshell/focus-session-restart.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,14 @@ qs ipc call focus pause >/dev/null
 before=$(qs ipc call focus status)
 
 qs kill >/dev/null
-qs --daemonize >/dev/null
+for _ in $(seq 1 50); do
+    qs list 2>&1 | rg -q '^Instance ' || break
+    sleep 0.1
+done
+if qs list 2>&1 | rg -q '^Instance '; then
+    fail 'shell did not stop before restart'
+fi
+quickshell --daemonize >/dev/null
 
 status=""
 for _ in $(seq 1 60); do