diff --git a/beat/web/backend/tests.py b/beat/web/backend/tests.py
index 45c3023270d354ea7cd9de77635bd2d0e507eb3f..936ca5c93b98ed5abf149d764371c4caab190b89 100644
--- a/beat/web/backend/tests.py
+++ b/beat/web/backend/tests.py
@@ -2596,7 +2596,7 @@ class WorkingExternally(TransactionTestCase):
 
         # actually runs the job (non-blocking)
         work(self.environments, self.cpulimit, self.process, self.settings)
-        time.sleep(1) #so the job starts
+        time.sleep(5) #wait till done (sqlite doesn't impl. select_for_update())
 
         # cancels the experiment
         xp.cancel()
@@ -2605,7 +2605,7 @@ class WorkingExternally(TransactionTestCase):
 
         # launch another working cycle to kill the process
         work(self.environments, self.cpulimit, self.process, self.settings)
-        time.sleep(1)
+        time.sleep(5) #wait till done (sqlite doesn't impl. select_for_update())
         xp.refresh_from_db()
 
         # assert we have no database traces after the last block is done