diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/LeaderDowningAllOtherNodesSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/LeaderDowningAllOtherNodesSpec.scala
index 212f60db2f..685fd7ffc0 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/LeaderDowningAllOtherNodesSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/LeaderDowningAllOtherNodesSpec.scala
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ abstract class LeaderDowningAllOtherNodesSpec
     "remove all shutdown nodes" taggedAs LongRunningTest in {
       val others = roles.drop(1)
       val shutdownAddresses = others.map(address).toSet
+      enterBarrier("before-all-other-shutdown")
       runOn(first) {
         for (node ← others)
           testConductor.exit(node, 0).await
diff --git a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/LeaderDowningNodeThatIsUnreachableSpec.scala b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/LeaderDowningNodeThatIsUnreachableSpec.scala
index 68a2c8f2b7..4237d7f868 100644
--- a/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/LeaderDowningNodeThatIsUnreachableSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-cluster/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/cluster/LeaderDowningNodeThatIsUnreachableSpec.scala
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@ abstract class LeaderDowningNodeThatIsUnreachableSpec(multiNodeConfig: LeaderDow
       awaitClusterUp(first, second, third, fourth)
 
       val fourthAddress = address(fourth)
+
+      enterBarrier("before-exit-fourth-node")
       runOn(first) {
         // kill 'fourth' node
         testConductor.exit(fourth, 0).await