diff --git a/packages/tests/src/lib/dockerode.ts b/packages/tests/src/lib/dockerode.ts
index 2428b67cb9..5aa8e2db22 100644
--- a/packages/tests/src/lib/dockerode.ts
+++ b/packages/tests/src/lib/dockerode.ts
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ export default class Dockerode {
     const container = await this.docker.createContainer({
       Image: this.IMAGE_NAME,
       HostConfig: {
+        NetworkMode: NETWORK_NAME,
         AutoRemove: true,
         PortBindings: {
           [`${restPort}/tcp`]: [{ HostPort: restPort.toString() }],
@@ -116,6 +117,8 @@ export default class Dockerode {
             [`${discv5UdpPort}/udp`]: [{ HostPort: discv5UdpPort.toString() }]
           })
         },
+        Dns: ["8.8.8.8"],
+        Links: [],
         Mounts: args.rlnRelayEthClientAddress
           ? [
               {
@@ -135,18 +138,19 @@ export default class Dockerode {
           [`${discv5UdpPort}/udp`]: {}
         })
       },
-      Cmd: argsArrayWithIP
-    });
-    await container.start();
-
-    await Dockerode.network.connect({
-      Container: container.id,
-      EndpointConfig: {
-        IPAMConfig: {
-          IPv4Address: this.containerIp
+      Cmd: argsArrayWithIP,
+      NetworkingConfig: {
+        EndpointsConfig: {
+          [NETWORK_NAME]: {
+            IPAMConfig: {
+              IPv4Address: this.containerIp
+            }
+          }
         }
       }
     });
+    await container.start();
+
     const logStream = fs.createWriteStream(logPath);
 
     container.logs(
diff --git a/packages/tests/src/lib/service_node.ts b/packages/tests/src/lib/service_node.ts
index 10eb5a37ea..baa905762a 100644
--- a/packages/tests/src/lib/service_node.ts
+++ b/packages/tests/src/lib/service_node.ts
@@ -431,3 +431,20 @@ interface RpcInfoResponse {
   listenAddresses: string[];
   enrUri?: string;
 }
+
+export async function verifyServiceNodesConnected(
+  nodes: ServiceNode[]
+): Promise<void> {
+  for (const node of nodes) {
+    const peers = await node.peers();
+    log.info(`Service node ${node.containerName} peers:`, peers.length);
+    log.info(`Service node ${node.containerName} peers:`, peers);
+
+    if (nodes.length > 1 && peers.length === 0) {
+      log.error(`Service node ${node.containerName} has no peers connected`);
+      throw new Error(
+        `Service node ${node.containerName} has no peers connected`
+      );
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/packages/tests/src/utils/nodes.ts b/packages/tests/src/utils/nodes.ts
index f6ceea680e..2318c80521 100644
--- a/packages/tests/src/utils/nodes.ts
+++ b/packages/tests/src/utils/nodes.ts
@@ -36,7 +36,9 @@ export async function runMultipleNodes(
     withoutFilter
   );
 
-  await verifyServiceNodesConnected(serviceNodes.nodes);
+  if (numServiceNodes > 1) {
+    await verifyServiceNodesConnected(serviceNodes.nodes);
+  }
 
   const wakuOptions: ProtocolCreateOptions = {
     staticNoiseKey: NOISE_KEY_1,