diff --git a/tests/msc4140/delayed_event_test.go b/tests/msc4140/delayed_event_test.go
index 7bf7534a..4384411b 100644
--- a/tests/msc4140/delayed_event_test.go
+++ b/tests/msc4140/delayed_event_test.go
@@ -371,11 +371,6 @@ func TestDelayedEvents(t *testing.T) {
 
 		numberOfDelayedEvents := 0
 
-		// Start a sync loop (initial sync)
-		since := user.MustSyncUntil(
-			t, client.SyncReq{},
-		)
-
 		// Send an initial delayed event that will be ready to send as soon as the server
 		// comes back up.
 		user.MustDo(
@@ -445,9 +440,7 @@ func TestDelayedEvents(t *testing.T) {
 		remainingDelayedEventCount := countDelayedEvents(t, delayedEventResponse)
 		// Sanity check that the room state was updated correctly with the delayed events
 		// that were sent.
-		since = user.MustSyncUntil(t, client.SyncReq{Since: since}, client.SyncStateHas(roomID, func(ev gjson.Result) bool {
-			return ev.Get("type").Str == eventType && ev.Get("state_key").Str == stateKey1
-		}))
+		user.MustDo(t, "GET", getPathForState(roomID, eventType, stateKey1))
 
 		// Wait until we see another delayed event being sent (ensure things resumed and are continuing).
 		time.Sleep(10 * time.Second)
@@ -459,9 +452,7 @@ func TestDelayedEvents(t *testing.T) {
 		// FIXME: Ideally, we'd check specifically for the last one that was sent but it
 		// will be a bit of a juggle and fiddly to get this right so for now we just check
 		// one.
-		since = user.MustSyncUntil(t, client.SyncReq{Since: since}, client.SyncStateHas(roomID, func(ev gjson.Result) bool {
-			return ev.Get("type").Str == eventType && ev.Get("state_key").Str == stateKey2
-		}))
+		user.MustDo(t, "GET", getPathForState(roomID, eventType, stateKey2))
 	})
 }