diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index 17e5b725c..6034534af 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -531,9 +531,7 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         # rsa key gen can be slow especially on CI, adjust timeout
         ac1._evtracker.set_timeout(120)
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
         chat = self.get_chat(ac1, ac2, both_created=True)
 
         lp.sec("ac1: send unencrypted message to ac2")
@@ -588,11 +586,8 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         ac1_clone = acfactory.clone_online_account(ac1)
 
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1_clone, 1000)
-        ac1_clone.start_threads()
 
         chat = self.get_chat(ac1, ac2)
 
@@ -697,11 +692,9 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
 
         lp.sec("ac2: waiting for configuration")
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
 
         lp.sec("ac1: waiting for configuration")
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
 
         lp.sec("ac1: send message and wait for ac2 to receive it")
         chat = self.get_chat(ac1, ac2)
@@ -714,9 +707,7 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         ac1 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         ac2 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account(mvbox=True, move=True)
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
         chat = self.get_chat(ac1, ac2)
         chat.send_text("message1")
         ev = ac2._evtracker.get_matching("DC_EVENT_INCOMING_MSG|DC_EVENT_MSGS_CHANGED")
@@ -728,9 +719,7 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         ac1.set_config("bcc_self", "1")
         ac2 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
         chat = self.get_chat(ac1, ac2)
         chat.send_text("message1")
         chat.send_text("message2")
@@ -1110,7 +1099,6 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
     def test_import_export_online_all(self, acfactory, tmpdir, lp):
         ac1 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
 
         lp.sec("create some chat content")
         contact1 = ac1.create_contact("some1@hello.com", name="some1")
@@ -1159,9 +1147,8 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         ac1 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         ac2 = acfactory.clone_online_account(ac1)
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
+
         lp.sec("trigger ac setup message and return setupcode")
         assert ac1.get_info()["fingerprint"] != ac2.get_info()["fingerprint"]
         setup_code = ac1.initiate_key_transfer()
@@ -1184,9 +1171,7 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         ac2 = acfactory.clone_online_account(ac1)
         ac2._evtracker.set_timeout(30)
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
 
         lp.sec("trigger ac setup message but ignore")
         assert ac1.get_info()["fingerprint"] != ac2.get_info()["fingerprint"]
@@ -1497,7 +1482,6 @@ class TestGroupStressTests:
         accounts = [acfactory.get_online_configuring_account() for i in range(5)]
         for acc in accounts:
             wait_configuration_progress(acc, 1000)
-            acc.start_threads()
         ac1 = accounts.pop()
 
         lp.sec("ac1: setting up contacts with 4 other members")
@@ -1602,7 +1586,6 @@ class TestGroupStressTests:
         accounts = [acfactory.get_online_configuring_account() for i in range(3)]
         for acc in accounts:
             wait_configuration_progress(acc, 1000)
-            acc.start_threads()
         ac1 = accounts.pop()
 
         lp.sec("ac1: setting up contacts with 2 other members")
diff --git a/python/tests/test_increation.py b/python/tests/test_increation.py
index f480ea289..6fb96e1fe 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_increation.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_increation.py
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@ class TestOnlineInCreation:
         ac1 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         ac2 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
 
         c2 = ac1.create_contact(email=ac2.get_config("addr"))
         chat = ac1.create_chat_by_contact(c2)
@@ -40,9 +38,7 @@ class TestOnlineInCreation:
         ac1 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         ac2 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
 
         c2 = ac1.create_contact(email=ac2.get_config("addr"))
         chat = ac1.create_chat_by_contact(c2)
@@ -60,9 +56,7 @@ class TestOnlineInCreation:
         ac1 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         ac2 = acfactory.get_online_configuring_account()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac1, 1000)
-        ac1.start_threads()
         wait_configuration_progress(ac2, 1000)
-        ac2.start_threads()
 
         c2 = ac1.create_contact(email=ac2.get_config("addr"))
         chat = ac1.create_chat_by_contact(c2)