diff --git a/tests/checks/tmux-history-search2.fish b/tests/checks/tmux-history-search2.fish
index 8caa5f005..de946e983 100644
--- a/tests/checks/tmux-history-search2.fish
+++ b/tests/checks/tmux-history-search2.fish
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 isolated-tmux-start
 isolated-tmux send-keys ': 1' Enter
 isolated-tmux send-keys ': ' M-Up M-Down M-Up M-Up M-Up M-Down Enter
+tmux-sleep
 isolated-tmux send-keys 'echo still alive' Enter
 tmux-sleep
 isolated-tmux capture-pane -p
@@ -14,8 +15,11 @@ isolated-tmux capture-pane -p
 # CHECK: still alive
 # CHECK: prompt 3>
 
-isolated-tmux send-keys 'complete : -xa "foobar foobaz"' Enter \
-    C-l ': fooba' Enter C-p Tab
+isolated-tmux send-keys 'complete : -xa "foobar foobaz"' Enter
+tmux-sleep
+isolated-tmux send-keys C-l ': fooba' Enter
+tmux-sleep
+isolated-tmux send-keys C-p Tab
 tmux-sleep
 isolated-tmux capture-pane -p
 # CHECK: prompt 4> : fooba