diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/tracker.py b/python/src/deltachat/tracker.py
index 1d35c3345..8d58bcb6b 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/tracker.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/tracker.py
@@ -20,6 +20,14 @@ class ImexTracker:
         elif ffi_event.name == "DC_EVENT_IMEX_FILE_WRITTEN":
             self._imex_events.put(ffi_event.data2)
 
+    def wait_progress(self, target_progress, progress_timeout=60):
+        while True:
+            ev = self._imex_events.get(timeout=progress_timeout)
+            if isinstance(ev, int) and ev >= target_progress:
+                return ev
+            if ev == 1000 or ev == 0:
+                return None
+
     def wait_finish(self, progress_timeout=60):
         """ Return list of written files, raise ValueError if ExportFailed. """
         files_written = []
diff --git a/python/tests/test_account.py b/python/tests/test_account.py
index f14bbe032..b72298f55 100644
--- a/python/tests/test_account.py
+++ b/python/tests/test_account.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import queue
 import time
 from deltachat import const, Account
 from deltachat.message import Message
+from deltachat.tracker import ImexTracker
 from deltachat.hookspec import account_hookimpl
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
@@ -1245,8 +1246,16 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         backupdir = tmpdir.mkdir("backup")
 
         lp.sec("export all to {}".format(backupdir))
-        path = ac1.export_all(backupdir.strpath)
-        assert os.path.exists(path)
+        with ac1.temp_plugin(ImexTracker()) as imex_tracker:
+            path = ac1.export_all(backupdir.strpath)
+            assert os.path.exists(path)
+
+        # check progress events for export
+        imex_tracker.wait_progress(250)
+        imex_tracker.wait_progress(500)
+        imex_tracker.wait_progress(750)
+        imex_tracker.wait_progress(1000)
+        # return mex_tracker.wait_finish()
         t = time.time()
 
         lp.sec("get fresh empty account")
@@ -1257,7 +1266,15 @@ class TestOnlineAccount:
         assert path2 == path
 
         lp.sec("import backup and check it's proper")
-        ac2.import_all(path)
+        with ac2.temp_plugin(ImexTracker()) as imex_tracker:
+            ac2.import_all(path)
+
+        # check progress events for import
+        imex_tracker.wait_progress(250)
+        imex_tracker.wait_progress(500)
+        imex_tracker.wait_progress(750)
+        imex_tracker.wait_progress(1000)
+
         contacts = ac2.get_contacts(query="some1")
         assert len(contacts) == 1
         contact2 = contacts[0]