diff --git a/waku/nwaku_test_utils.go b/waku/nwaku_test_utils.go
index 7f2b608..65f51db 100644
--- a/waku/nwaku_test_utils.go
+++ b/waku/nwaku_test_utils.go
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ func WaitForAutoConnection(nodeList []*WakuNode) error {
 	}
 
 	// Wait for the protocol connections to settle
-	time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+	time.Sleep(1 * time.Second)
 	Debug("Auto-connection check completed successfully")
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/waku/store_test.go b/waku/store_test.go
index 2e5c859..c6596fa 100644
--- a/waku/store_test.go
+++ b/waku/store_test.go
@@ -1181,12 +1181,20 @@ func TestStoredDuplicateMessage(t *testing.T) {
 	err = WaitForAutoConnection([]*WakuNode{node1, node2})
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Nodes did not connect within timeout")
 
+	peers1, err := node1.GetConnectedPeers()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "failed getting node1's peers")
+	fmt.Println("---------- node1 connected peers: ", peers1)
+
 	queryTimestamp := proto.Int64(time.Now().UnixNano())
 	var msg = node1.CreateMessage()
 	Debug("Node1 is publishing two identical messages")
 	_, err = node1.RelayPublishNoCTX(DefaultPubsubTopic, msg)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to publish first message")
 
+	peers2, err := node2.GetConnectedPeers()
+	require.NoError(t, err, "failed getting node2's peers")
+	fmt.Println("---------- node2 connected peers: ", peers2)
+
 	_, err = node2.RelayPublishNoCTX(DefaultPubsubTopic, msg)
 	require.NoError(t, err, "Failed to publish second message")