diff --git a/tests/common/sync_helpers.rs b/tests/common/sync_helpers.rs
index dbfc814..dbd3aca 100644
--- a/tests/common/sync_helpers.rs
+++ b/tests/common/sync_helpers.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,33 @@ use nostr_sdk::prelude::*;
 use super::port::{self, PortReservation};
 use super::relay::TestRelay;
 
+const DESCENDANT_LIVE_LOG: &str = "Installed priority-bounded auxiliary live coverage";
+
+pub fn descendant_live_generation(relay: &TestRelay) -> usize {
+    std::fs::read_to_string(relay.log_path())
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+        .matches(DESCENDANT_LIVE_LOG)
+        .count()
+}
+
+pub async fn wait_for_new_descendant_live_generation(
+    relay: &TestRelay,
+    previous: usize,
+    timeout: Duration,
+) {
+    let deadline = tokio::time::Instant::now() + timeout;
+    loop {
+        if descendant_live_generation(relay) > previous {
+            return;
+        }
+        assert!(
+            tokio::time::Instant::now() < deadline,
+            "descendant live coverage was not installed before the deadline"
+        );
+        tokio::task::yield_now().await;
+    }
+}
+
 // NOTE: Using rust-nostr Kind variants:
 // - Kind::GitIssue.as_u16() -> Kind::GitIssue (1621)
 // - Kind::Comment.as_u16() -> Kind::Comment (1111)
diff --git a/tests/sync/tag_variations.rs b/tests/sync/tag_variations.rs
index 991ab87..8272459 100644
--- a/tests/sync/tag_variations.rs
+++ b/tests/sync/tag_variations.rs
@@ -348,6 +348,7 @@ async fn test_layer3_sync_with_lowercase_e_tag() {
     let issue = build_layer2_issue_event(&keys, &repo_coordinate, "Parent Issue for Tag 9a Test")
         .expect("Failed to create issue");
     let issue_id = issue.id;
+    let descendant_generation = descendant_live_generation(&relay_b);
 
     let client_a = TestClient::new(relay_a.url(), keys.clone())
         .await
@@ -366,8 +367,12 @@ async fn test_layer3_sync_with_lowercase_e_tag() {
     println!("Issue synced to relay_b: {}", issue_synced);
     assert!(issue_synced, "Layer 2 issue should sync first");
 
-    // Wait for Layer 3 subscriptions to be established
-    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500)).await;
+    wait_for_new_descendant_live_generation(
+        &relay_b,
+        descendant_generation,
+        Duration::from_secs(20),
+    )
+    .await;
 
     // 6. Create and send Layer 3 reply with lowercase 'e' tag (kind 1)
     let reply = build_layer3_reply_with_e_tag(&keys, &issue_id, "Reply with lowercase e tag")
@@ -455,6 +460,7 @@ async fn test_layer3_sync_with_uppercase_e_tag() {
     let issue = build_layer2_issue_event(&keys, &repo_coordinate, "Parent Issue for Tag 9b Test")
         .expect("Failed to create issue");
     let issue_id = issue.id;
+    let descendant_generation = descendant_live_generation(&relay_b);
 
     let client_a = TestClient::new(relay_a.url(), keys.clone())
         .await
@@ -473,8 +479,12 @@ async fn test_layer3_sync_with_uppercase_e_tag() {
     println!("Issue synced to relay_b: {}", issue_synced);
     assert!(issue_synced, "Layer 2 issue should sync first");
 
-    // Wait for Layer 3 subscriptions to be established
-    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500)).await;
+    wait_for_new_descendant_live_generation(
+        &relay_b,
+        descendant_generation,
+        Duration::from_secs(20),
+    )
+    .await;
 
     // 6. Create and send Layer 3 comment with uppercase 'E' tag (kind 1111)
     let comment =
@@ -566,6 +576,7 @@ async fn test_layer3_sync_with_q_tag() {
     let issue = build_layer2_issue_event(&keys, &repo_coordinate, "Parent Issue for Tag 9c Test")
         .expect("Failed to create issue");
     let issue_id = issue.id;
+    let descendant_generation = descendant_live_generation(&relay_b);
 
     let client_a = TestClient::new(relay_a.url(), keys.clone())
         .await
@@ -584,8 +595,12 @@ async fn test_layer3_sync_with_q_tag() {
     println!("Issue synced to relay_b: {}", issue_synced);
     assert!(issue_synced, "Layer 2 issue should sync first");
 
-    // Wait for Layer 3 subscriptions to be established
-    tokio::time::sleep(Duration::from_millis(500)).await;
+    wait_for_new_descendant_live_generation(
+        &relay_b,
+        descendant_generation,
+        Duration::from_secs(20),
+    )
+    .await;
 
     // 6. Create and send Layer 3 quote with 'q' tag (kind 1)
     let quote = build_layer3_quote_with_q_tag(&keys, &issue_id, "Quote with q tag")