diff --git a/python/tests/test_0_complex_or_slow.py b/python/tests/test_0_complex_or_slow.py
index e3decc7d6..736c0d1dd 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_0_complex_or_slow.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_0_complex_or_slow.py
@@ -220,16 +220,16 @@ def test_fetch_existing(acfactory, lp, mvbox_move):
     acfactory.bring_accounts_online()
     assert_folders_configured(ac1)
 
-    assert ac1.direct_imap.select_config_folder("mvbox" if mvbox_move else "inbox")
-    with ac1.direct_imap.idle() as idle1:
-        lp.sec("send out message with bcc to ourselves")
-        ac1.set_config("bcc_self", "1")
-        chat = acfactory.get_accepted_chat(ac1, ac2)
-        chat.send_text("message text")
-        assert_folders_configured(ac1)
+    lp.sec("send out message with bcc to ourselves")
+    ac1.set_config("bcc_self", "1")
+    chat = acfactory.get_accepted_chat(ac1, ac2)
+    chat.send_text("message text")
 
-        lp.sec("wait until the bcc_self message arrives in correct folder and is marked seen")
-        assert idle1.wait_for_seen()
+    lp.sec("wait until the bcc_self message arrives in correct folder and is marked seen")
+    if mvbox_move:
+        ac1._evtracker.get_info_contains("Marked messages [0-9]+ in folder DeltaChat as seen.")
+    else:
+        ac1._evtracker.get_info_contains("Marked messages [0-9]+ in folder INBOX as seen.")
     assert_folders_configured(ac1)
 
     lp.sec("create a cloned ac1 and fetch contact history during configure")
@@ -271,12 +271,12 @@ def test_fetch_existing_msgs_group_and_single(acfactory, lp):
     ac1._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()
 
     lp.sec("send out message with bcc to ourselves")
-    with ac1.direct_imap.idle() as idle1:
-        ac1.set_config("bcc_self", "1")
-        ac1_ac2_chat = ac1.create_chat(ac2)
-        ac1_ac2_chat.send_text("outgoing, encrypted direct message, creating a chat")
-        # wait until the bcc_self message arrives
-        assert idle1.wait_for_seen()
+    ac1.set_config("bcc_self", "1")
+    ac1_ac2_chat = ac1.create_chat(ac2)
+    ac1_ac2_chat.send_text("outgoing, encrypted direct message, creating a chat")
+
+    # wait until the bcc_self message arrives
+    ac1._evtracker.get_info_contains("Marked messages [0-9]+ in folder INBOX as seen.")
 
     lp.sec("Clone online account and let it fetch the existing messages")
     ac1_clone = acfactory.new_online_configuring_account(cloned_from=ac1)
diff --git a/python/tests/test_1_online.py b/python/tests/test_1_online.py
index 405374351..96b5fb3d9 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_1_online.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_1_online.py
@@ -518,22 +518,22 @@ def test_send_and_receive_message_markseen(acfactory, lp):
     msg4 = ac2._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()
 
     lp.sec("mark messages as seen on ac2, wait for changes on ac1")
-    with ac1.direct_imap.idle() as idle1:
-        with ac2.direct_imap.idle() as idle2:
-            ac2.mark_seen_messages([msg2, msg4])
-            ev = ac2._evtracker.get_matching("DC_EVENT_MSGS_NOTICED")
-            assert msg2.chat.id == msg4.chat.id
-            assert ev.data1 == msg2.chat.id
-            assert ev.data2 == 0
-            idle2.wait_for_seen()
+    ac2.mark_seen_messages([msg2, msg4])
+    ev = ac2._evtracker.get_matching("DC_EVENT_MSGS_NOTICED")
+    assert msg2.chat.id == msg4.chat.id
+    assert ev.data1 == msg2.chat.id
+    assert ev.data2 == 0
+    ac2._evtracker.get_info_contains("Marked messages .* in folder INBOX as seen.")
 
-        lp.step("1")
-        for _i in range(2):
-            ev = ac1._evtracker.get_matching("DC_EVENT_MSG_READ")
-            assert ev.data1 > const.DC_CHAT_ID_LAST_SPECIAL
-            assert ev.data2 > const.DC_MSG_ID_LAST_SPECIAL
-        lp.step("2")
-        idle1.wait_for_seen()  # Check that ac1 marks the read receipt as read
+    lp.step("1")
+    for _i in range(2):
+        ev = ac1._evtracker.get_matching("DC_EVENT_MSG_READ")
+        assert ev.data1 > const.DC_CHAT_ID_LAST_SPECIAL
+        assert ev.data2 > const.DC_MSG_ID_LAST_SPECIAL
+    lp.step("2")
+
+    # Check that ac1 marks the read receipt as read.
+    ac1._evtracker.get_info_contains("Marked messages .* in folder INBOX as seen.")
 
     assert msg1.is_out_mdn_received()
     assert msg3.is_out_mdn_received()
@@ -618,18 +618,24 @@ def test_markseen_message_and_mdn(acfactory, mvbox_move):
     # Do not send BCC to self, we only want to test MDN on ac1.
     ac1.set_config("bcc_self", "0")
 
+    acfactory.get_accepted_chat(ac1, ac2).send_text("hi")
+    msg = ac2._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()
+
+    ac2.mark_seen_messages([msg])
+
     folder = "mvbox" if mvbox_move else "inbox"
+    for ac in [ac1, ac2]:
+        if mvbox_move:
+            ac._evtracker.get_info_contains("Marked messages [0-9]+ in folder DeltaChat as seen.")
+        else:
+            ac._evtracker.get_info_contains("Marked messages [0-9]+ in folder INBOX as seen.")
     ac1.direct_imap.select_config_folder(folder)
     ac2.direct_imap.select_config_folder(folder)
-    with ac1.direct_imap.idle() as idle1:
-        with ac2.direct_imap.idle() as idle2:
-            acfactory.get_accepted_chat(ac1, ac2).send_text("hi")
-            msg = ac2._evtracker.wait_next_incoming_message()
 
-            ac2.mark_seen_messages([msg])
-
-            idle2.wait_for_seen()  # Check original message is marked as seen
-            idle1.wait_for_seen()  # Check that the mdn is marked as seen
+    # Check that the mdn is marked as seen
+    assert len(list(ac1.direct_imap.conn.fetch(AND(seen=True)))) == 1
+    # Check original message is marked as seen
+    assert len(list(ac2.direct_imap.conn.fetch(AND(seen=True)))) == 1
 
 
 def test_reply_privately(acfactory):
@@ -683,23 +689,24 @@ def test_mdn_asymmetric(acfactory, lp):
 
     assert len(msg.chat.get_messages()) == 1
 
-    ac1.direct_imap.select_config_folder("mvbox")
-    with ac1.direct_imap.idle() as idle1:
-        lp.sec("ac2: mark incoming message as seen")
-        ac2.mark_seen_messages([msg])
+    lp.sec("ac2: mark incoming message as seen")
+    ac2.mark_seen_messages([msg])
 
-        lp.sec("ac1: waiting for incoming activity")
-        # MDN should be moved even though MDNs are already disabled
-        ac1._evtracker.get_matching("DC_EVENT_IMAP_MESSAGE_MOVED")
+    lp.sec("ac1: waiting for incoming activity")
+    # MDN should be moved even though MDNs are already disabled
+    ac1._evtracker.get_matching("DC_EVENT_IMAP_MESSAGE_MOVED")
 
-        assert len(chat.get_messages()) == 1
+    assert len(chat.get_messages()) == 1
 
-        # Wait for the message to be marked as seen on IMAP.
-        assert idle1.wait_for_seen()
+    # Wait for the message to be marked as seen on IMAP.
+    ac1._evtracker.get_info_contains("Marked messages 1 in folder DeltaChat as seen.")
 
     # MDN is received even though MDNs are already disabled
     assert msg_out.is_out_mdn_received()
 
+    ac1.direct_imap.select_config_folder("mvbox")
+    assert len(list(ac1.direct_imap.conn.fetch(AND(seen=True)))) == 1
+
 
 def test_send_and_receive_will_encrypt_decrypt(acfactory, lp):
     ac1, ac2 = acfactory.get_online_accounts(2)
diff --git a/python/tox.ini b/python/tox.ini
index a89b2c618..994f9c4c7 100644
--- a/python/tox.ini
+++ b/python/tox.ini
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ envlist =
 
 [testenv]
 commands = 
-    pytest -n6 --extra-info --reruns 2 --reruns-delay 5 -v -rsXx --ignored --strict-tls {posargs: tests examples}
+    pytest -n6 --extra-info -v -rsXx --ignored --strict-tls {posargs: tests examples}
     pip wheel . -w {toxworkdir}/wheelhouse --no-deps
 setenv =
 # Avoid stack overflow when Rust core is built without optimizations.
@@ -21,7 +21,6 @@ passenv =
     RUSTC_WRAPPER
 deps = 
     pytest
-    pytest-rerunfailures
     pytest-timeout
     pytest-xdist
     pdbpp