diff --git a/src/steps/common.py b/src/steps/common.py
index 2ba7c8a..dcd593a 100644
--- a/src/steps/common.py
+++ b/src/steps/common.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import shutil
 import pytest
 
 from src.env_vars import CFGSYNC, NOMOS, NOMOS_EXECUTOR
+from src.libs.common import delay
 from src.libs.custom_logger import get_custom_logger
 from src.node.nomos_node import NomosNode
 
@@ -65,6 +66,8 @@ class StepsCommon:
             logger.error(f"REST service did not become ready in time: {ex}")
             raise
 
+        delay(5)
+
     @pytest.fixture(scope="function")
     def setup_4_node_cluster(self, request):
         logger.debug(f"Running fixture setup: {inspect.currentframe().f_code.co_name}")
@@ -82,3 +85,5 @@ class StepsCommon:
         except Exception as ex:
             logger.error(f"REST service did not become ready in time: {ex}")
             raise
+
+        delay(5)
diff --git a/tests/data_integrity/test_data_integrity.py b/tests/data_integrity/test_data_integrity.py
index 9e5ed9c..e68544d 100644
--- a/tests/data_integrity/test_data_integrity.py
+++ b/tests/data_integrity/test_data_integrity.py
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ class TestDataIntegrity(StepsDataAvailability):
 
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures("setup_4_node_cluster")
     def test_da_identify_retrieve_missing_columns(self):
-        delay(5)
         self.disperse_data(DATA_TO_DISPERSE[1], to_app_id(1), to_index(0))
         delay(5)
         # Select one target node at random to get blob data for 1/2 columns
@@ -31,7 +30,6 @@ class TestDataIntegrity(StepsDataAvailability):
 
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures("setup_2_node_cluster")
     def test_da_sampling_determines_data_presence(self):
-        delay(5)
         self.disperse_data(DATA_TO_DISPERSE[1], to_app_id(1), to_index(0))
         delay(5)
         rcv_data = self.get_data_range(self.node2, to_app_id(1), to_index(0), to_index(5))
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_2node_alive.py b/tests/e2e/test_2node_alive.py
index fbf87d9..e6137e4 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_2node_alive.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_2node_alive.py
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 import pytest
 
-from src.env_vars import CFGSYNC, NOMOS, NOMOS_EXECUTOR
 from src.libs.custom_logger import get_custom_logger
-from src.node.nomos_node import NomosNode
 from src.steps.common import StepsCommon
 
 logger = get_custom_logger(__name__)
diff --git a/tests/networking_privacy/test_networking_privacy.py b/tests/networking_privacy/test_networking_privacy.py
index 396a69a..9b85ee7 100644
--- a/tests/networking_privacy/test_networking_privacy.py
+++ b/tests/networking_privacy/test_networking_privacy.py
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ class TestNetworkingPrivacy(StepsDataAvailability):
 
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures("setup_2_node_cluster")
     def test_consumed_bandwidth_dispersal(self, setup_2_node_cluster):
-        delay(5)
         net_io = psutil.net_io_counters()
         prev_total = net_io.bytes_sent + net_io.bytes_recv
 
@@ -45,7 +44,6 @@ class TestNetworkingPrivacy(StepsDataAvailability):
 
     @pytest.mark.usefixtures("setup_2_node_cluster")
     def test_consumed_bandwidth_random_data_dispersal(self):
-        delay(5)
         net_io = psutil.net_io_counters()
         prev_total = net_io.bytes_sent + net_io.bytes_recv