diff --git a/tests/agency/volition_test.go b/tests/agency/volition_test.go
index 24557c8..0ebcf57 100644
--- a/tests/agency/volition_test.go
+++ b/tests/agency/volition_test.go
@@ -47,9 +47,12 @@ func TestCommitmentTurnsActionIntoRequestForApproval(t *testing.T) {
 	if it.Kind != volition.IntentRequestApproval || !it.RequireApproval {
 		t.Fatalf("intention should be to request approval: %+v", it)
 	}
-	waitFor(t, h, m, 15*time.Second, "an approval request", func() bool {
+	// The approval request commits before the executor marks the intention
+	// blocked, so wait for both.
+	waitFor(t, h, m, 60*time.Second, "an approval request and a blocked intention", func() bool {
 		ap, _ := h.Deps.Capabilities.Approvals(ctx, m.ID, "pending", 10)
-		return len(ap) == 1
+		cur, _ := h.Deps.Volition.GetIntention(ctx, nil, m.ID, it.ID)
+		return len(ap) == 1 && cur.Status == volition.IntentionBlocked
 	})
 	if host.count() != 0 {
 		t.Fatal("restart ran without approval")
diff --git a/tests/m1/m1_test.go b/tests/m1/m1_test.go
index 3482e2b..7de9325 100644
--- a/tests/m1/m1_test.go
+++ b/tests/m1/m1_test.go
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func TestFirstMilestone(t *testing.T) {
 		Reply *conversation.Message `json:"reply"`
 		Note  string                `json:"note"`
 	}
-	if code := h.do("POST", "/api/v1/minds/m1/ask", map[string]any{"text": "atlas has a failing disk.", "wait_seconds": 20}, &ask); code != 200 || ask.Reply == nil {
+	if code := h.do("POST", "/api/v1/minds/m1/ask", map[string]any{"text": "atlas has a failing disk.", "wait_seconds": 90}, &ask); code != 200 || ask.Reply == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("ask 1: %d %+v", code, ask)
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(ask.Reply.Content, "Noted") || ask.Reply.LLMCallID.IsZero() || ask.Reply.EventID.IsZero() {
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ func TestFirstMilestone(t *testing.T) {
 	if intent.Kind != "acknowledge" || len(intent.Beliefs) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("intent 1 wrong: %+v", intent)
 	}
-	if code := h.do("POST", "/api/v1/minds/m1/ask", map[string]any{"text": "What do you believe about atlas?", "wait_seconds": 20}, &ask); code != 200 || ask.Reply == nil {
+	if code := h.do("POST", "/api/v1/minds/m1/ask", map[string]any{"text": "What do you believe about atlas?", "wait_seconds": 90}, &ask); code != 200 || ask.Reply == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("ask 2: %d %+v", code, ask)
 	}
 	json.Unmarshal(ask.Reply.Intent, &intent) //nolint:errcheck
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ func TestFirstMilestone(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("state not continued after restart: before %d/%d after %d/%d", cycleBefore, len(ws.State.WorkingMemory), ws2.State.Cycle, len(ws2.State.WorkingMemory))
 	}
 	// 14. Continue the same mind: it still holds the belief and answers.
-	if code := h2.do("POST", "/api/v1/minds/m1/ask", map[string]any{"text": "What do you believe about atlas?", "wait_seconds": 20}, &ask); code != 200 || ask.Reply == nil {
+	if code := h2.do("POST", "/api/v1/minds/m1/ask", map[string]any{"text": "What do you believe about atlas?", "wait_seconds": 90}, &ask); code != 200 || ask.Reply == nil {
 		t.Fatalf("ask after restart: %d %+v", code, ask)
 	}
 	json.Unmarshal(ask.Reply.Intent, &intent) //nolint:errcheck