diff --git a/akka-remote-tests/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/remote/RemoteNodeShutdownAndComesBackSpec.scala b/akka-remote-tests/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/remote/RemoteNodeShutdownAndComesBackSpec.scala
index 325b24a1cc..c255d806ed 100644
--- a/akka-remote-tests/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/remote/RemoteNodeShutdownAndComesBackSpec.scala
+++ b/akka-remote-tests/src/multi-jvm/scala/akka/remote/RemoteNodeShutdownAndComesBackSpec.scala
@@ -100,13 +100,16 @@ abstract class RemoteNodeShutdownAndComesBackSpec
         within(30.seconds) {
           // retry because the Subject actor might not be started yet
           awaitAssert {
-            system.actorSelection(RootActorPath(secondAddress) / "user" / "subject") ! Identify("subject")
-            expectMsgPF(1 second) {
+            val p = TestProbe()
+            system.actorSelection(RootActorPath(secondAddress) / "user" / "subject").tell(Identify("subject"), p.ref)
+            p.expectMsgPF(1 second) {
               case ActorIdentity("subject", Some(ref)) ⇒ true
             }
           }
         }
 
+        expectTerminated(subject)
+
         // Establish watch with the new system. This triggers additional system message traffic. If buffers are out
         // of synch the remote system will be quarantined and the rest of the test will fail (or even in earlier
         // stages depending on circumstances).