diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index f63c1332f..2483c7d51 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -2446,25 +2446,23 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
 
         acfactory.wait_configure_and_start_io()
 
-        imap2 = ac2.direct_imap
-        imap2.idle_start()
-
         lp.sec("ac1: create chat with ac2")
         chat1 = ac1.create_chat(ac2)
         ac2.create_chat(ac1)
 
+        lp.sec("ac1: send message to ac2")
         sent_msg = chat1.send_text("hello")
-        imap2.idle_wait_for_new_message(terminate=False)
 
         msg = ac2._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()
         assert msg.text == "hello"
 
-        imap2.idle_check(terminate=True)
+        lp.sec("ac2: wait for close/expunge on autodelete")
         ac2._evtracker.get_info_contains("close/expunge succeeded")
 
-        assert len(imap2.get_all_messages()) == 0
+        lp.sec("ac2: check that message was autodeleted on server")
+        assert len(ac2.direct_imap.get_all_messages()) == 0
 
-        # Mark deleted message as seen and check that read receipt arrives
+        lp.sec("ac2: Mark deleted message as seen and check that read receipt arrives")
         msg.mark_seen()
         ev = ac1._evtracker.get_matching("DC_EVENT_MSG_READ")
         assert ev.data1 == chat1.id