diff --git a/itest/send_test.go b/itest/send_test.go
index a0fa47b8e9..a56d7737f9 100644
--- a/itest/send_test.go
+++ b/itest/send_test.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 
 var (
 	transferTypeSend = taprpc.ProofTransferType_PROOF_TRANSFER_TYPE_SEND
+	timeoutMargin    = 5 * time.Second
 )
 
 // testBasicSendUnidirectional tests that we can properly send assets back and
@@ -71,6 +72,11 @@ func testBasicSendUnidirectional(t *harnessTest) {
 		}
 
 		timeout := 2 * defaultProofTransferReceiverAckTimeout
+
+		// Allow for some margin for the operations that aren't pure
+		// waiting on the receiver ACK.
+		timeout += timeoutMargin
+
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctxb, timeout)
 		defer cancel()
 		assertAssetSendNtfsEvent(
@@ -185,6 +191,11 @@ func testRestartReceiverCheckBalance(t *harnessTest) {
 		}
 
 		timeout := 2 * defaultProofTransferReceiverAckTimeout
+
+		// Allow for some margin for the operations that aren't pure
+		// waiting on the receiver ACK.
+		timeout += timeoutMargin
+
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctxb, timeout)
 		defer cancel()
 		assertAssetSendNtfsEvent(
@@ -643,8 +654,11 @@ func testReattemptFailedSendHashmailCourier(t *harnessTest) {
 		// Context timeout scales with expected number of events.
 		timeout := time.Duration(expectedEventCount) *
 			defaultProofTransferReceiverAckTimeout
-		// Add overhead buffer to context timeout.
-		timeout += 5 * time.Second
+
+		// Allow for some margin for the operations that aren't pure
+		// waiting on the receiver ACK.
+		timeout += timeoutMargin
+
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctxb, timeout)
 		defer cancel()
 
@@ -750,8 +764,11 @@ func testReattemptFailedSendUniCourier(t *harnessTest) {
 		// Context timeout scales with expected number of events.
 		timeout := time.Duration(expectedEventCount) *
 			defaultProofTransferReceiverAckTimeout
-		// Add overhead buffer to context timeout.
-		timeout += 5 * time.Second
+
+		// Allow for some margin for the operations that aren't pure
+		// waiting on the receiver ACK.
+		timeout += timeoutMargin
+
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctxb, timeout)
 		defer cancel()
 
@@ -913,8 +930,11 @@ func testReattemptFailedReceiveUniCourier(t *harnessTest) {
 	// Context timeout scales with expected number of events.
 	timeout := time.Duration(expectedEventCount) *
 		defaultProofTransferReceiverAckTimeout
-	// Add overhead buffer to context timeout.
-	timeout += 5 * time.Second
+
+	// Allow for some margin for the operations that aren't pure
+	// waiting on the receiver ACK.
+	timeout += timeoutMargin
+
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctxb, timeout)
 	defer cancel()
 
diff --git a/itest/tapd_harness.go b/itest/tapd_harness.go
index 20068d369d..717449142f 100644
--- a/itest/tapd_harness.go
+++ b/itest/tapd_harness.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ const (
 	// defaultProofTransferReceiverAckTimeout is the default itest specific
 	// timeout we'll use for waiting for a receiver to acknowledge a proof
 	// transfer.
-	defaultProofTransferReceiverAckTimeout = 5 * time.Second
+	defaultProofTransferReceiverAckTimeout = 500 * time.Millisecond
 )
 
 // tapdHarness is a test harness that holds everything that is needed to