diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/testplugin.py b/python/src/deltachat/testplugin.py
index 4ce70f0f0..adce704d0 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/testplugin.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/testplugin.py
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ def acfactory(pytestconfig, tmpdir, request, session_liveconfig, data):
             return ac, dict(configdict)
 
         def get_online_configuring_account(self, mvbox=False, sentbox=False, move=False,
-                                           pre_generated_key=True, quiet=False, config={}):
+                                           pre_generated_key=True, quiet=False, config={}, start=True):
             ac, configdict = self.get_online_config(
                 pre_generated_key=pre_generated_key, quiet=quiet)
             configdict.update(config)
@@ -305,7 +305,8 @@ def acfactory(pytestconfig, tmpdir, request, session_liveconfig, data):
             configdict["mvbox_move"] = str(int(move))
             configdict["sentbox_watch"] = str(int(sentbox))
             ac.update_config(configdict)
-            ac.start()
+            if start:
+                ac.start()
             return ac
 
         def get_one_online_account(self, pre_generated_key=True, mvbox=False, move=False):
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/tracker.py b/python/src/deltachat/tracker.py
index 4570f3d4c..250016d6e 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/tracker.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/tracker.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ class ConfigureTracker:
         self._smtp_finished = Event()
         self._imap_finished = Event()
         self._ffi_events = []
+        self._progress = Queue()
 
     @account_hookimpl
     def ac_process_ffi_event(self, ffi_event):
@@ -53,6 +54,8 @@ class ConfigureTracker:
             self._smtp_finished.set()
         elif ffi_event.name == "DC_EVENT_IMAP_CONNECTED":
             self._imap_finished.set()
+        elif ffi_event.name == "DC_EVENT_CONFIGURE_PROGRESS":
+            self._progress.put(ffi_event.data1)
 
     @account_hookimpl
     def ac_configure_completed(self, success):
@@ -66,6 +69,9 @@ class ConfigureTracker:
         """ wait until smtp is configured. """
         self._imap_finished.wait()
 
+    def wait_progress(self):
+        return self._progress.get()
+
     def wait_finish(self):
         """ wait until configure is completed.
 
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index 33f297f44..73e03ba95 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@ import pytest
 import os
 import queue
 import time
-from deltachat import const, Account
+from deltachat import const, Account, capi
 from deltachat.message import Message
 from deltachat.hookspec import account_hookimpl
+from deltachat.tracker import ConfigureTracker
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 from conftest import (wait_configuration_progress,
                       wait_securejoin_inviter_progress)
@@ -563,10 +564,12 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         assert msg3_in.is_encrypted()
 
     def test_configure_canceled(self, acfactory):
-        ac1 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
-        wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 200)
-        ac1.stop_ongoing()
-        wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 0, 0)
+        ac1 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account(start=False)
+        with ac1.temp_plugin(ConfigureTracker()) as config_tracker:
+            capi.lib.dc_configure(ac1._dc_context)
+            config_tracker.wait_progress()
+            ac1.stop_ongoing()
+            config_tracker.wait_finish()
 
     def test_export_import_self_keys(self, acfactory, tmpdir):
         ac1, ac2 = acfactory.get_two_online_accounts()