diff --git a/tests/server/test_server.py b/tests/server/test_server.py
index ed5e5fc82..44a3c82e3 100644
--- a/tests/server/test_server.py
+++ b/tests/server/test_server.py
@@ -8,10 +8,10 @@
 import json
 import logging
 import select
+import time
 import unittest
 import uuid
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock
-import time
 
 import aepsych.server as server
 import aepsych.utils_logging as utils_logging
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ def tearDown(self):
         self.s.cleanup()
 
         # sleep to ensure db is closed
-        time.sleep(0.1)
+        time.sleep(0.2)
 
         # cleanup the db
         if self.s.db is not None:
diff --git a/tests/test_db.py b/tests/test_db.py
index 460a1f5cf..e2a2a842f 100644
--- a/tests/test_db.py
+++ b/tests/test_db.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 import json
 import os
 import shutil
+import time
 import unittest
 import uuid
 from configparser import DuplicateOptionError
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ def setUp(self):
         self._database = db.Database(db_path=self._dbname)
 
     def tearDown(self):
+        time.sleep(0.1)
         self._database.delete_db()
 
     def test_db_create(self):
@@ -129,6 +131,9 @@ def test_update_db(self):
         shutil.copy(str(db_path), str(dst_db_path))
         self.assertTrue(dst_db_path.is_file())
 
+        # add sleep to ensure file is ready
+        time.sleep(0.1)
+
         # open the new db
         test_database = db.Database(db_path=dst_db_path.as_posix())
 
@@ -170,6 +175,9 @@ def test_update_db_with_raw_data_tables(self):
         shutil.copy(str(db_path), str(dst_db_path))
         self.assertTrue(dst_db_path.is_file())
 
+        # sleep to ensure db is ready
+        time.sleep(0.1)
+
         # open the new db
         test_database = db.Database(db_path=dst_db_path.as_posix())