diff --git a/nixos/tests/xmonad.nix b/nixos/tests/xmonad.nix
index a14d4b819eb6..eb2e0563d7c3 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/xmonad.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/xmonad.nix
@@ -90,8 +90,7 @@ in {
 
     # original config has a keybinding that creates somefile
     machine.send_key("alt-ctrl-t")
-    machine.sleep(1)
-    machine.succeed("stat /tmp/somefile")
+    machine.wait_for_file("/tmp/somefile")
 
     # set up the new config
     machine.succeed("mkdir -p ${user.home}/.xmonad")
@@ -103,15 +102,13 @@ in {
 
     # new config has a keybinding that deletes somefile
     machine.send_key("alt-ctrl-r")
-    machine.sleep(1)
-    machine.fail("stat /tmp/somefile")
+    machine.wait_until_fails("stat /tmp/somefile", timeout=30)
 
     # restart with the old config, and confirm the old keybinding is back
     machine.succeed("rm /tmp/oldXMonad")
     machine.send_key("alt-q")
     machine.wait_for_file("/tmp/oldXMonad")
     machine.send_key("alt-ctrl-t")
-    machine.sleep(1)
-    machine.succeed("stat /tmp/somefile")
+    machine.wait_for_file("/tmp/somefile")
   '';
 })