diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/MultiDcSplitBrainSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/MultiDcSplitBrainSpec.scala
index 33f4097222..292169699d 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/MultiDcSplitBrainSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/MultiDcSplitBrainSpec.scala
@@ -73,11 +73,6 @@ abstract class MultiDcSplitBrainSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(MultiDcSplitBrainMult
   def splitDataCenters(doNotVerify: Set[RoleName]): Unit = {
     splits += 1
     val memberNodes = (dc1 ++ dc2).filterNot(doNotVerify)
-    val probe = TestProbe()
-    runOn(memberNodes: _*) {
-      cluster.subscribe(probe.ref, classOf[UnreachableDataCenter])
-      probe.expectMsgType[CurrentClusterState]
-    }
     enterBarrier(s"split-$splits")
 
     runOn(first) {
@@ -89,18 +84,19 @@ abstract class MultiDcSplitBrainSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(MultiDcSplitBrainMult
     enterBarrier(s"after-split-$splits")
 
     runOn(memberNodes: _*) {
-      probe.expectMsgType[UnreachableDataCenter](15.seconds)
-      cluster.unsubscribe(probe.ref)
-      runOn(dc1: _*) {
-        awaitAssert {
-          cluster.state.unreachableDataCenters should ===(Set("dc2"))
-        }
-      }
-      runOn(dc2: _*) {
-        awaitAssert {
-          cluster.state.unreachableDataCenters should ===(Set("dc1"))
+      within(15.seconds) {
+        runOn(dc1: _*) {
+          awaitAssert {
+            cluster.state.unreachableDataCenters should ===(Set("dc2"))
+          }
+        }
+        runOn(dc2: _*) {
+          awaitAssert {
+            cluster.state.unreachableDataCenters should ===(Set("dc1"))
+          }
         }
       }
+      system.log.debug("Cluster state after split: {}", cluster.state)
       cluster.state.unreachable should ===(Set.empty)
     }
     enterBarrier(s"after-split-verified-$splits")
@@ -109,11 +105,6 @@ abstract class MultiDcSplitBrainSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(MultiDcSplitBrainMult
   def unsplitDataCenters(notMembers: Set[RoleName]): Unit = {
     unsplits += 1
     val memberNodes = (dc1 ++ dc2).filterNot(notMembers)
-    val probe = TestProbe()
-    runOn(memberNodes: _*) {
-      cluster.subscribe(probe.ref, classOf[ReachableDataCenter])
-      probe.expectMsgType[CurrentClusterState]
-    }
     enterBarrier(s"unsplit-$unsplits")
 
     runOn(first) {
@@ -125,12 +116,11 @@ abstract class MultiDcSplitBrainSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(MultiDcSplitBrainMult
     enterBarrier(s"after-unsplit-$unsplits")
 
     runOn(memberNodes: _*) {
-      probe.expectMsgType[ReachableDataCenter](25.seconds)
-      system.log.debug("Reachable data center received")
-      cluster.unsubscribe(probe.ref)
-      awaitAssert {
-        cluster.state.unreachableDataCenters should ===(Set.empty)
-        system.log.debug("Cluster state: {}", cluster.state)
+      within(15.seconds) {
+        awaitAssert {
+          cluster.state.unreachableDataCenters should ===(Set.empty)
+        }
+        system.log.debug("Cluster state after unsplit: {}", cluster.state)
       }
     }
     enterBarrier(s"after-unsplit-verified-$unsplits")
@@ -141,6 +131,28 @@ abstract class MultiDcSplitBrainSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(MultiDcSplitBrainMult
       awaitClusterUp(first, second, third)
     }
 
+    "publish DataCenterReachabilityEvent" in {
+      val dcReachabilityProbe = TestProbe()
+      Cluster(system).subscribe(
+        dcReachabilityProbe.ref,
+        ClusterEvent.InitialStateAsSnapshot,
+        classOf[DataCenterReachabilityEvent])
+      dcReachabilityProbe.expectMsgType[CurrentClusterState].unreachableDataCenters should ===(Set.empty)
+
+      splitDataCenters(doNotVerify = Set(fourth, fifth))
+      runOn(first, second, third) {
+        dcReachabilityProbe.expectMsgType[UnreachableDataCenter]
+      }
+      enterBarrier("unreachable-verified")
+
+      unsplitDataCenters(notMembers = Set(fourth, fifth))
+      runOn(first, second, third) {
+        dcReachabilityProbe.expectMsgType[ReachableDataCenter]
+      }
+
+      enterBarrier("publish-event-verified")
+    }
+
     "be able to have a data center member join while there is inter data center split" in within(20.seconds) {
       // introduce a split between data centers
       splitDataCenters(doNotVerify = Set(fourth, fifth))
@@ -189,6 +201,7 @@ abstract class MultiDcSplitBrainSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(MultiDcSplitBrainMult
       runOn(first, second) {
         awaitAssert(clusterView.members.filter(_.address == address(fourth)) should ===(Set.empty))
       }
+
       enterBarrier("inter-data-center-split-2-done")
     }