diff --git a/tests/test_multi_program.py b/tests/test_multi_program.py
index ac80928d..eff9a731 100644
--- a/tests/test_multi_program.py
+++ b/tests/test_multi_program.py
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ from tractor._testing import (
     tractor_test,
 )
 from tractor import (
+    current_actor,
+    _state,
     Actor,
     Context,
     Portal,
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ async def test_cancel_remote_arbiter(
     daemon: subprocess.Popen,
     reg_addr: UnwrappedAddress,
 ):
-    assert not tractor.current_actor().is_arbiter
+    assert not current_actor().is_arbiter
     async with tractor.get_registry(reg_addr) as portal:
         await portal.cancel_actor()
 
@@ -75,7 +77,7 @@ def test_register_duplicate_name(
             registry_addrs=[reg_addr],
         ) as an:
 
-            assert not tractor.current_actor().is_arbiter
+            assert not current_actor().is_arbiter
 
             p1 = await an.start_actor('doggy')
             p2 = await an.start_actor('doggy')
@@ -99,22 +101,42 @@ async def get_root_portal(
     and ensure it's contact info is the same as our immediate parent.
 
     '''
-    await ctx.started()
+    sub: Actor = current_actor()
+    rtvs: dict = _state._runtime_vars
+    raddrs: list[UnwrappedAddress] = rtvs['_root_addrs']
+
+    # await tractor.pause()
+    # XXX, in case the sub->root discovery breaks you might need
+    # this (i know i did Xp)!!
+    # from tractor.devx import mk_pdb
+    # mk_pdb().set_trace()
+
+    assert (
+        len(raddrs) == 1
+        and
+        list(sub._parent_chan.raddr.unwrap()) in raddrs
+    )
+
+    # connect back to our immediate parent which should also
+    # be the actor-tree's root.
     from tractor._discovery import get_root
     ptl: Portal
     async with get_root() as ptl:
         root_aid: Aid = ptl.chan.aid
-        parent_ptl: Portal = tractor.current_actor().get_parent()
+        parent_ptl: Portal = current_actor().get_parent()
         assert (
             root_aid.name == 'root'
             and
             parent_ptl.chan.aid == root_aid
         )
+        await ctx.started()
 
 
 def test_non_registrar_spawns_child(
     daemon: subprocess.Popen,
     reg_addr: UnwrappedAddress,
+    loglevel: str,
+    debug_mode: bool,
 ):
     '''
     Ensure a non-regristar (serving) root actor can spawn a sub and
@@ -128,6 +150,8 @@ def test_non_registrar_spawns_child(
     async def main():
         async with tractor.open_nursery(
             registry_addrs=[reg_addr],
+            loglevel=loglevel,
+            debug_mode=debug_mode,
         ) as an:
 
             actor: Actor = tractor.current_actor()
@@ -140,7 +164,7 @@ def test_non_registrar_spawns_child(
             async with sub_ptl.open_context(
                 get_root_portal,
             ) as (ctx, first):
-                pass
+                print('Waiting for `sub` to connect back to us..')
 
             await an.cancel()