diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/JoinTwoClustersSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/JoinTwoClustersSpec.scala
index 4bbe703405..6a7ebcee86 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/JoinTwoClustersSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/JoinTwoClustersSpec.scala
@@ -38,13 +38,18 @@ abstract class JoinTwoClustersSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(JoinTwoClustersMultiJvm
     testConductor.enter("after")
   }
 
-  val a1Address = node(a1).address
-  val b1Address = node(b1).address
-  val c1Address = node(c1).address
+  lazy val a1Address = node(a1).address
+  lazy val b1Address = node(b1).address
+  lazy val c1Address = node(c1).address
 
   "Three different clusters (A, B and C)" must {
 
     "be able to 'elect' a single leader after joining (A -> B)" taggedAs LongRunningTest in {
+      // make sure that the node-to-join is started before other join
+      runOn(a1, b1, c1) {
+        cluster
+      }
+      testConductor.enter("first-started")
 
       runOn(a1, a2) {
         cluster.join(a1Address)
diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/MembershipChangeListenerSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/MembershipChangeListenerSpec.scala
index 64019c102c..dc915912ee 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/MembershipChangeListenerSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/MembershipChangeListenerSpec.scala
@@ -33,13 +33,19 @@ abstract class MembershipChangeListenerSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(MembershipChan
     testConductor.enter("after")
   }
 
+  lazy val firstAddress = node(first).address
+  lazy val secondAddress = node(second).address
+
   "A set of connected cluster systems" must {
 
-    val firstAddress = node(first).address
-    val secondAddress = node(second).address
-
     "(when two systems) after cluster convergence updates the membership table then all MembershipChangeListeners should be triggered" taggedAs LongRunningTest in {
 
+      // make sure that the node-to-join is started before other join
+      runOn(first) {
+        cluster
+      }
+      testConductor.enter("first-started")
+
       runOn(first, second) {
         cluster.join(firstAddress)
         val latch = TestLatch()
diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeMembershipSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeMembershipSpec.scala
index f96265ac5a..232d6ca0e7 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeMembershipSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeMembershipSpec.scala
@@ -31,14 +31,20 @@ abstract class NodeMembershipSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(NodeMembershipMultiJvmSp
     testConductor.enter("after")
   }
 
-  val firstAddress = node(first).address
-  val secondAddress = node(second).address
-  val thirdAddress = node(third).address
+  lazy val firstAddress = node(first).address
+  lazy val secondAddress = node(second).address
+  lazy val thirdAddress = node(third).address
 
   "A set of connected cluster systems" must {
 
     "(when two systems) start gossiping to each other so that both systems gets the same gossip info" taggedAs LongRunningTest in {
 
+      // make sure that the node-to-join is started before other join
+      runOn(first) {
+        cluster
+      }
+      testConductor.enter("first-started")
+
       runOn(first, second) {
         cluster.join(firstAddress)
         awaitCond(cluster.latestGossip.members.size == 2)
diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeStartupSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeStartupSpec.scala
index 65cd7891a9..fcbcce746f 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeStartupSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/NodeStartupSpec.scala
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ abstract class NodeStartupSpec extends MultiNodeSpec(NodeStartupMultiJvmSpec) wi
     testConductor.enter("after")
   }
 
-  val firstAddress = node(first).address
-  val secondAddress = node(second).address
+  lazy val firstAddress = node(first).address
+  lazy val secondAddress = node(second).address
 
   "A first cluster node with a 'node-to-join' config set to empty string (singleton cluster)" must {