diff --git a/identity/tests/did-cache_test.ts b/identity/tests/did-cache_test.ts
index 7b5a314..fc3f1f5 100644
--- a/identity/tests/did-cache_test.ts
+++ b/identity/tests/did-cache_test.ts
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ Deno.test({
 
     // let's mess with the cached doc so we get something different
     didCache.cacheDid(did, { ...doc, id: "did:example:alice" });
-    await wait(5);
+    await wait(1);
 
     // first check the cache & see that we have the stale value
     const cached = shortCacheResolver.cache?.checkCache(did);
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ Deno.test({
 
     // again, we mess with the cached doc so we get something different
     didCache.cacheDid(did, { ...doc, id: "did:example:alice" });
-    await wait(5);
+    await wait(1);
 
     // see that the resolver does not return expired value & instead force refreshes
     const staleGet = await shortExpireResolver.resolve(did);
diff --git a/repo/tests/car_test.ts b/repo/tests/car_test.ts
index 1d1fd1c..de8d1dd 100644
--- a/repo/tests/car_test.ts
+++ b/repo/tests/car_test.ts
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ for (const fixture of fixtures) {
 Deno.test("writeCar propagates errors", async () => {
   const iterate = async () => {
     async function* blockIterator() {
-      await wait(1);
+      await wait(0);
       const block = await dataToCborBlock({ test: 1 });
       yield block;
       throw new Error("Oops!");
diff --git a/sync/tests/runner_test.ts b/sync/tests/runner_test.ts
index 42636c4..ca5bb53 100644
--- a/sync/tests/runner_test.ts
+++ b/sync/tests/runner_test.ts
@@ -29,21 +29,21 @@ Deno.test("MemoryRunner performs work in parallel across partitions, serial with
   const complete: number[] = [];
   // partition 1 items start slow but get faster: slow should still complete first.
   runner.addTask("1", async () => {
-    await wait(30);
+    await wait(8);
     complete.push(11);
   });
   runner.addTask("1", async () => {
-    await wait(20);
+    await wait(4);
     complete.push(12);
   });
   runner.addTask("1", async () => {
-    await wait(1);
+    await wait(0);
     complete.push(13);
   });
   assertEquals(runner.partitions.size, 1);
   // partition 2 items complete quickly except the last, which is slowest of all events.
   runner.addTask("2", async () => {
-    await wait(1);
+    await wait(0);
     complete.push(21);
   });
   runner.addTask("2", async () => {
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ Deno.test("MemoryRunner performs work in parallel across partitions, serial with
     complete.push(23);
   });
   runner.addTask("2", async () => {
-    await wait(60);
+    await wait(10);
     complete.push(24);
   });
   assertEquals(runner.partitions.size, 2);
@@ -70,11 +70,11 @@ Deno.test("MemoryRunner limits overall concurrency.", async () => {
   // if concurrency were not constrained, partition 1 would complete all items
   // before any items from partition 2. since it is constrained, the work is complete in the order added.
   runner.addTask("1", async () => {
-    await wait(1);
+    await wait(0);
     complete.push(11);
   });
   runner.addTask("2", async () => {
-    await wait(10);
+    await wait(2);
     complete.push(21);
   });
   runner.addTask("1", async () => {
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ Deno.test("MemoryRunner limits overall concurrency.", async () => {
     complete.push(12);
   });
   runner.addTask("2", async () => {
-    await wait(10);
+    await wait(5);
     complete.push(22);
   });
   // only partition 1 exists so far due to the concurrency