diff --git a/tests/test_cancellation.py b/tests/test_cancellation.py
index 06aef92..e6d460c 100644
--- a/tests/test_cancellation.py
+++ b/tests/test_cancellation.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Cancellation and error propagation
 import os
 import signal
 import platform
+import time
 from itertools import repeat
 
 import pytest
@@ -359,7 +360,11 @@ async def test_nested_multierrors(loglevel, start_method):
 
 
 @no_windows
-def test_cancel_via_SIGINT(loglevel, start_method):
+def test_cancel_via_SIGINT(
+    loglevel,
+    start_method,
+    spawn_backend,
+):
     """Ensure that a control-C (SIGINT) signal cancels both the parent and
     child processes in trionic fashion
     """
@@ -369,6 +374,8 @@ def test_cancel_via_SIGINT(loglevel, start_method):
         with trio.fail_after(2):
             async with tractor.open_nursery() as tn:
                 await tn.start_actor('sucka')
+                if spawn_backend == 'mp':
+                    time.sleep(0.1)
                 os.kill(pid, signal.SIGINT)
                 await trio.sleep_forever()
 
@@ -379,7 +386,8 @@ def test_cancel_via_SIGINT(loglevel, start_method):
 @no_windows
 def test_cancel_via_SIGINT_other_task(
     loglevel,
-    start_method
+    start_method,
+    spawn_backend,
 ):
     """Ensure that a control-C (SIGINT) signal cancels both the parent
     and child processes in trionic fashion even a subprocess is started
@@ -399,6 +407,8 @@ def test_cancel_via_SIGINT_other_task(
         with trio.fail_after(2):
             async with trio.open_nursery() as n:
                 await n.start(spawn_and_sleep_forever)
+                if spawn_backend == 'mp':
+                    time.sleep(0.1)
                 os.kill(pid, signal.SIGINT)
 
     with pytest.raises(KeyboardInterrupt):
diff --git a/tests/test_streaming.py b/tests/test_streaming.py
index 6d278b8..00b07cb 100644
--- a/tests/test_streaming.py
+++ b/tests/test_streaming.py
@@ -202,7 +202,11 @@ async def cancel_after(wait):
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='module')
-def time_quad_ex(arb_addr):
+def time_quad_ex(arb_addr, travis, spawn_backend):
+    if travis and spawn_backend == 'mp' and (platform.system() != 'Windows'):
+        # no idea, but the travis, mp, linux runs are flaking out here often
+        pytest.skip("Test is too flaky on mp in CI")
+
     timeout = 7 if platform.system() == 'Windows' else 4
     start = time.time()
     results = tractor.run(cancel_after, timeout, arbiter_addr=arb_addr)
@@ -213,9 +217,6 @@ def time_quad_ex(arb_addr):
 
 def test_a_quadruple_example(time_quad_ex, travis, spawn_backend):
     """This also serves as a kind of "we'd like to be this fast test"."""
-    if travis and spawn_backend == 'mp' and (platform.system() != 'Windows'):
-        # no idea, but the travis, mp, linux runs are flaking out here often
-        pytest.skip("Test is too flaky on mp in CI")
 
     results, diff = time_quad_ex
     assert results
@@ -233,10 +234,6 @@ def test_not_fast_enough_quad(
     """Verify we can cancel midway through the quad example and all actors
     cancel gracefully.
     """
-    if travis and spawn_backend == 'mp' and (platform.system() != 'Windows'):
-        # no idea, but the travis, mp, linux runs are flaking out here often
-        pytest.skip("Test is too flaky on mp in CI")
-
     results, diff = time_quad_ex
     delay = max(diff - cancel_delay, 0)
     results = tractor.run(cancel_after, delay, arbiter_addr=arb_addr)