diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/p2p_txexpiringsoon.py b/qa/rpc-tests/p2p_txexpiringsoon.py
index 39249d8c3..37465cddf 100755
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/p2p_txexpiringsoon.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/p2p_txexpiringsoon.py
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ class TxExpiringSoonTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         return tx
 
     def verify_inv(self, testnode, tx):
+        # Make sure we are synced before sending the mempool message
+        testnode.sync_with_ping()
+
         # Send p2p message "mempool" to receive contents from zcashd node in "inv" message
         with mininode_lock:
             testnode.last_inv = None
@@ -142,7 +145,7 @@ class TxExpiringSoonTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         assert_equal(self.nodes[2].getblockcount(), 201)
 
         # Reconnect node 2 to the network
-        connect_nodes_bi(self.nodes, 1, 2)
+        connect_nodes_bi(self.nodes, 0, 2)
 
         # Set up test node for node 2
         testnode2 = TestNode()
@@ -175,7 +178,7 @@ class TxExpiringSoonTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         self.send_data_message(testnode0, tx2)
 
         # Sync up with node after p2p messages delivered
-        [x.sync_with_ping() for x in [testnode0, testnode2]]
+        testnode0.sync_with_ping()
 
         # Verify node 0 does not reply to "getdata" by sending "tx" message, as tx2 is expiring soon
         with mininode_lock:
@@ -194,6 +197,7 @@ class TxExpiringSoonTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         self.verify_last_tx(testnode0, tx3)
         # Verify txid for tx3 is returned in "inv", but tx2 which is expiring soon is not returned
         self.verify_inv(testnode0, tx3)
+        self.verify_inv(testnode2, tx3)
 
         # Verify contents of mempool
         assert_equal({tx2.hash, tx3.hash}, set(self.nodes[0].getrawmempool()))
diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/tx_expiry_helper.py b/qa/rpc-tests/tx_expiry_helper.py
index b118e1995..3831a3a35 100755
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/tx_expiry_helper.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/tx_expiry_helper.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 #
 from test_framework.mininode import CTransaction, NodeConnCB, mininode_lock, msg_ping, \
     msg_pong
-from test_framework.util import assert_true
+from test_framework.util import fail
 
 import cStringIO
 import time
@@ -67,16 +67,15 @@ class TestNode(NodeConnCB):
     # Sync up with the node after delivery of a message
     def sync_with_ping(self, timeout=30):
         self.connection.send_message(msg_ping(nonce=self.ping_counter))
-        received_pong = False
         sleep_time = 0.05
-        while not received_pong and timeout > 0:
-            time.sleep(sleep_time)
-            timeout -= sleep_time
+        while timeout > 0:
             with mininode_lock:
                 if self.last_pong.nonce == self.ping_counter:
-                    received_pong = True
-        self.ping_counter += 1
-        assert_true(received_pong, "Should have received pong")
+                    self.ping_counter += 1
+                    return
+            time.sleep(sleep_time)
+            timeout -= sleep_time
+        fail("Should have received pong")
 
 
 def create_transaction(node, coinbase, to_address, amount, expiry_height):