diff --git a/cmd/server/parity_test.go b/cmd/server/parity_test.go
index e36decd5..497d2ea8 100644
--- a/cmd/server/parity_test.go
+++ b/cmd/server/parity_test.go
@@ -424,6 +424,11 @@ func TestParityWSMultiObserverGolden(t *testing.T) {
 	go poller.Start()
 	defer poller.Stop()
 
+	// Wait for poller to initialize its lastID/lastObsID cursors before
+	// inserting new data; otherwise the poller may snapshot a lastID that
+	// already includes the test data and never broadcast it.
+	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	now := time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339)
 	if _, err := db.conn.Exec(`INSERT INTO transmissions (raw_hex, hash, first_seen, route_type, payload_type, decoded_json)
 		VALUES ('BEEF', 'goldenstarburst237', ?, 1, 4, '{"pubKey":"aabbccdd11223344","type":"ADVERT"}')`, now); err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/server/websocket_test.go b/cmd/server/websocket_test.go
index fa883d2a..22b68d82 100644
--- a/cmd/server/websocket_test.go
+++ b/cmd/server/websocket_test.go
@@ -278,6 +278,11 @@ func TestPollerBroadcastsMultipleObservations(t *testing.T) {
 	go poller.Start()
 	defer poller.Stop()
 
+	// Wait for poller to initialize its lastID/lastObsID cursors before
+	// inserting new data; otherwise the poller may snapshot a lastID that
+	// already includes the test data and never broadcast it.
+	time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	now := time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339)
 	if _, err := db.conn.Exec(`INSERT INTO transmissions (raw_hex, hash, first_seen, route_type, payload_type, decoded_json)
 		VALUES ('FACE', 'starbursthash237a', ?, 1, 4, '{"pubKey":"aabbccdd11223344","type":"ADVERT"}')`, now); err != nil {