diff --git a/src/chat/chat_tests.rs b/src/chat/chat_tests.rs
index 99c4e17d9..ee8270762 100644
--- a/src/chat/chat_tests.rs
+++ b/src/chat/chat_tests.rs
@@ -1625,6 +1625,7 @@ async fn test_set_chat_name() {
         "another name",
         "something different",
     ] {
+        SystemTime::shift(Duration::from_secs(1));
         set_chat_name(alice, chat_id, new_name).await.unwrap();
         let sent_msg = alice.pop_sent_msg().await;
         let received_msg = bob.recv_msg(&sent_msg).await;
@@ -3437,6 +3438,7 @@ async fn test_chat_description(
         "",
         "ä ẟ 😂",
     ] {
+        SystemTime::shift(Duration::from_secs(1));
         tcm.section(&format!(
             "Alice sets the chat description to {description:?}"
         ));
@@ -4459,7 +4461,9 @@ async fn test_get_chat_media_webxdc_order() -> Result<()> {
     assert_eq!(media.first().unwrap(), &instance1_id);
     assert_eq!(media.get(1).unwrap(), &instance2_id);
 
-    // add a status update for the oder instance; that resorts the list
+    SystemTime::shift(Duration::from_secs(1));
+
+    // add a status update for the other instance; that resorts the list
     alice
         .send_webxdc_status_update(instance1_id, r#"{"payload": {"foo": "bar"}}"#)
         .await?;
@@ -4873,10 +4877,6 @@ async fn test_sync_broadcast_and_send_message() -> Result<()> {
         vec![a2b_contact_id]
     );
 
-    // alice2's smeared clock may be behind alice1's one, so we need to work around "hi" appearing
-    // before "You joined the channel." for bob. alice1 makes 3 more calls of
-    // create_smeared_timestamp() than alice2 does as of 2026-03-10.
-    SystemTime::shift(Duration::from_secs(3));
     tcm.section("Alice's second device sends a message to the channel");
     let sent_msg = alice2.send_text(a2_broadcast_id, "hi").await;
     let msg = bob.recv_msg(&sent_msg).await;
diff --git a/src/receive_imf/receive_imf_tests.rs b/src/receive_imf/receive_imf_tests.rs
index f36295717..7ab4dd8ef 100644
--- a/src/receive_imf/receive_imf_tests.rs
+++ b/src/receive_imf/receive_imf_tests.rs
@@ -3975,6 +3975,8 @@ async fn test_delayed_removal_is_ignored() -> Result<()> {
     remove_contact_from_chat(bob, bob_chat_id, bob_contact_fiona).await?;
     let remove_msg = bob.pop_sent_msg().await;
 
+    SystemTime::shift(Duration::from_secs(1));
+
     // Bob adds new members Dom and Elena, but first addition message is lost.
     let dom = &tcm.dom().await;
     let elena = &tcm.elena().await;
@@ -3991,6 +3993,8 @@ async fn test_delayed_removal_is_ignored() -> Result<()> {
     alice.recv_msg(&add_msg).await;
     assert_eq!(get_chat_contacts(alice, chat_id).await?.len(), 4);
 
+    SystemTime::shift(Duration::from_secs(1));
+
     // Alice re-adds Fiona.
     add_contact_to_chat(alice, chat_id, alice_fiona).await?;
     assert_eq!(get_chat_contacts(alice, chat_id).await?.len(), 5);
diff --git a/test-data/golden/test_sync_broadcast_alice1 b/test-data/golden/test_sync_broadcast_alice1
index 82ce056e5..7d450fb71 100644
--- a/test-data/golden/test_sync_broadcast_alice1
+++ b/test-data/golden/test_sync_broadcast_alice1
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 OutBroadcast#Chat#1001: Channel [0 member(s)]
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Msg#1001: info (Contact#Contact#Info): Messages are end-to-end encrypted. [NOTICED][INFO]
-Msg#1008🔒: Me (Contact#Contact#Self): hi  √
 Msg#1006🔒: Me (Contact#Contact#Self): Member bob@example.net added. [INFO] √
+Msg#1008🔒: Me (Contact#Contact#Self): hi  √
 Msg#1009🔒: Me (Contact#Contact#Self): You removed member bob@example.net. [INFO] √
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------