diff --git a/relay/client/client_test.go b/relay/client/client_test.go
index c98524748..a14b3f6d0 100644
--- a/relay/client/client_test.go
+++ b/relay/client/client_test.go
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ func TestClient(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// wait for server to start
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	t.Log("alice connecting to server")
 	clientAlice := NewClient(ctx, serverURL, hmacTokenStore, "alice")
 	err := clientAlice.Connect()
@@ -114,6 +117,9 @@ func TestRegistration(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// wait for server to start
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	clientAlice := NewClient(ctx, serverURL, hmacTokenStore, "alice")
 	err := clientAlice.Connect()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -186,6 +192,9 @@ func TestEcho(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// wait for server to start
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	clientAlice := NewClient(ctx, serverURL, hmacTokenStore, idAlice)
 	err := clientAlice.Connect()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -267,6 +276,9 @@ func TestBindToUnavailabePeer(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// wait for server to start
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	clientAlice := NewClient(ctx, serverURL, hmacTokenStore, "alice")
 	err := clientAlice.Connect()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -304,6 +316,9 @@ func TestBindReconnect(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// wait for server to start
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	clientAlice := NewClient(ctx, serverURL, hmacTokenStore, "alice")
 	err := clientAlice.Connect()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -386,6 +401,9 @@ func TestCloseConn(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// wait for server to start
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	clientAlice := NewClient(ctx, serverURL, hmacTokenStore, "alice")
 	err := clientAlice.Connect()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -433,6 +451,9 @@ func TestCloseRelayConn(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// wait for server to start
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	clientAlice := NewClient(ctx, serverURL, hmacTokenStore, "alice")
 	err := clientAlice.Connect()
 	if err != nil {
@@ -469,6 +490,9 @@ func TestCloseByServer(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// wait for server to start
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	idAlice := "alice"
 	log.Debugf("connect by alice")
 	relayClient := NewClient(ctx, serverURL, hmacTokenStore, idAlice)
@@ -512,6 +536,9 @@ func TestCloseByClient(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	// wait for server to start
+	time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond)
+
 	idAlice := "alice"
 	log.Debugf("connect by alice")
 	relayClient := NewClient(ctx, serverURL, hmacTokenStore, idAlice)