diff --git a/aci_edge_sandboxes/tests/openvmm_fake.rs b/aci_edge_sandboxes/tests/openvmm_fake.rs
index 5e5c10128..2857be24c 100644
--- a/aci_edge_sandboxes/tests/openvmm_fake.rs
+++ b/aci_edge_sandboxes/tests/openvmm_fake.rs
@@ -1275,9 +1275,15 @@ fn unrecorded_launches_end_once_their_log_is_released() {
     }
     assert!(journal.exists());
 
-    // Its release proves it.
+    // Its release proves it, once a process that a concurrent test spawned, which may still hold
+    // the log until it executes its program, has done so.
     drop(log);
-    nvx.start(&sandbox_id).unwrap();
+    let deadline = Instant::now() + Duration::from_secs(10);
+    while let Err(error) = nvx.start(&sandbox_id) {
+        assert_eq!(error.code(), ErrorCode::BackendError, "{error}");
+        assert!(Instant::now() < deadline, "{error}");
+        thread::sleep(Duration::from_millis(25));
+    }
     assert!(!journal.exists());
     assert_eq!(run(&nvx, &sandbox_id, "echo started").stdout, b"started\n");
     nvx.stop(&sandbox_id).unwrap();
diff --git a/nvx-rs/src/host/store/tests.rs b/nvx-rs/src/host/store/tests.rs
index 9459c2343..3ebede73f 100644
--- a/nvx-rs/src/host/store/tests.rs
+++ b/nvx-rs/src/host/store/tests.rs
@@ -748,9 +748,17 @@ fn an_abandoned_launch_that_spawned_nothing_has_exited() {
         error.message().contains("must be recovered first"),
         "{error}"
     );
-    assert_eq!(locked.recover().unwrap(), Recovery::Exited);
+    // A process that a concurrent test spawned may still hold the log that the launch closed,
+    // until it executes its program, and a later recovery then ends the launch.
+    assert!(released(|| locked.recover().unwrap() == Recovery::Exited));
     let launch = locked.begin_launch(&runtime(), &CAPABILITY).unwrap();
-    assert_eq!(launch.abandon().unwrap(), Recovery::Exited);
+    match launch.abandon().unwrap() {
+        Recovery::Exited => {}
+        Recovery::Indeterminate(_) => {
+            assert!(released(|| locked.recover().unwrap() == Recovery::Exited));
+        }
+        other => panic!("{other:?}"),
+    }
     assert!(store.journal().unwrap().is_none());
     assert!(!store.capability_path().exists());
 }
@@ -783,13 +791,12 @@ fn a_recorded_vmm_that_cannot_be_held_has_exited_once_its_log_is_released() {
         };
         assert!(reason.contains("still holds its log"), "{reason}");
     }
-    // Once nothing holds the log, the launch has exited.
+    // Once nothing holds the log, the launch has exited. A process that a concurrent test spawned
+    // may still hold it, until it executes its program.
     drop(log);
     for open in opens {
-        assert_eq!(
-            locked.end_identified(&journal, &reference, open),
-            Recovery::Exited
-        );
+        let exited = || locked.end_identified(&journal, &reference, open) == Recovery::Exited;
+        assert!(released(exited));
     }
 }