diff --git a/nucypher/blockchain/eth/clients.py b/nucypher/blockchain/eth/clients.py
index 578223592..3bc0c13b7 100644
--- a/nucypher/blockchain/eth/clients.py
+++ b/nucypher/blockchain/eth/clients.py
@@ -350,8 +350,8 @@ class NuCypherGethDevProcess(NuCypherGethProcess):
     def start(self, timeout: int = 30, extra_delay: int = 1):
         self.log.info("STARTING GETH DEV NOW")
         BaseGethProcess.start(self)  # <--- START GETH
+        time.sleep(extra_delay)  # give it a second
         self.wait_for_ipc(timeout=timeout)
-        time.sleep(extra_delay)
 
 
 class NuCypherGethDevnetProcess(NuCypherGethProcess):
diff --git a/tests/blockchain/eth/interfaces/test_clients.py b/tests/blockchain/eth/interfaces/test_clients.py
index 130fc8232..ca781965d 100644
--- a/tests/blockchain/eth/interfaces/test_clients.py
+++ b/tests/blockchain/eth/interfaces/test_clients.py
@@ -107,11 +107,10 @@ def test_ganache_web3_client():
     assert interface.is_local
 
 
-def test_geth_EIP_191_client_signature_integration():
+def test_geth_EIP_191_client_signature_integration(geth_dev_node):
 
     # Start a geth process
-    geth = NuCypherGethDevProcess()
-    blockchain = Blockchain.connect(provider_process=geth, sync=False)
+    blockchain = Blockchain.connect(provider_process=geth_dev_node, sync=False)
 
     # Sign a message (RPC) and verify it.
     etherbase = blockchain.interface.accounts[0]
diff --git a/tests/fixtures.py b/tests/fixtures.py
index f8886f0fb..f91c37470 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures.py
+++ b/tests/fixtures.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ from umbral.signing import Signer
 
 from nucypher.blockchain.economics import TokenEconomics, SlashingEconomics
 from nucypher.blockchain.eth.agents import NucypherTokenAgent
+from nucypher.blockchain.eth.clients import NuCypherGethDevProcess
 from nucypher.blockchain.eth.deployers import (NucypherTokenDeployer,
                                                MinerEscrowDeployer,
                                                PolicyManagerDeployer,
@@ -438,12 +439,13 @@ def blockchain_ursulas(three_agents, ursula_decentralized_test_config):
         for ursula_to_learn_about in _ursulas:
             ursula_to_teach.remember_node(ursula_to_learn_about)
 
+    # TODO: #1035 - Move non-staking Ursulas to a new fixture
     # This one is not going to stake
     _non_staking_ursula = make_decentralized_ursulas(ursula_config=ursula_decentralized_test_config,
                                                      ether_addresses=[the_last_ursula],
                                                      stake=False)
 
-    # _ursulas.extend(_non_staking_ursula)
+    _ursulas.extend(_non_staking_ursula)
     yield _ursulas
 
 
@@ -546,3 +548,14 @@ def _mock_ursula_reencrypts(ursula, corrupt_cfrag: bool = False):
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session')
 def mock_ursula_reencrypts():
     return _mock_ursula_reencrypts
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope='session')
+def geth_dev_node():
+    geth = NuCypherGethDevProcess()
+    try:
+        yield geth
+    finally:
+        if geth.is_running:
+            geth.stop()
+            assert not geth.is_running
diff --git a/tests/learning/test_fault_tolerance.py b/tests/learning/test_fault_tolerance.py
index 78d8c3222..ccfd0079f 100644
--- a/tests/learning/test_fault_tolerance.py
+++ b/tests/learning/test_fault_tolerance.py
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@ def test_emit_warning_upon_new_version(ursula_federated_test_config, caplog):
                                   ursula_config=ursula_federated_test_config,
                                   quantity=2,
                                   know_each_other=True)
+
     learner = lonely_ursula_maker().pop()
     teacher, new_node = lonely_ursula_maker()
 
     new_node.TEACHER_VERSION = learner.LEARNER_VERSION + 1
-
     learner._current_teacher_node = teacher
 
     warnings = []
@@ -62,26 +62,26 @@ def test_emit_warning_upon_new_version(ursula_federated_test_config, caplog):
             warnings.append(event)
 
     globalLogPublisher.addObserver(warning_trapper)
-
     learner.learn_from_teacher_node()
 
     assert len(warnings) == 1
-    #TODO: Why no assert? Is this in progress?
-    warnings[0]['log_format'] == learner.unknown_version_message.format(new_node, new_node.TEACHER_VERSION,
-                                                                        learner.LEARNER_VERSION)
+    assert warnings[0]['log_format'] == learner.unknown_version_message.format(new_node,
+                                                                               new_node.TEACHER_VERSION,
+                                                                               learner.LEARNER_VERSION)
 
     # Now let's go a little further: make the version totally unrecognizable.
-    crazy_bytes_representation = int(learner.LEARNER_VERSION + 1).to_bytes(2,
-                                                                           byteorder="big") + b"totally unintelligible nonsense"
+    crazy_bytes_representation = int(learner.LEARNER_VERSION + 1).to_bytes(2, byteorder="big") \
+                                 + b"totally unintelligible nonsense"
+
     Response = namedtuple("MockResponse", ("content", "status_code"))
     response = Response(content=crazy_bytes_representation, status_code=200)
     learner.network_middleware.get_nodes_via_rest = lambda *args, **kwargs: response
     learner.learn_from_teacher_node()
 
     assert len(warnings) == 2
-    # TODO: Why no assert? Is this in progress?
-    warnings[1]['log_format'] == learner.unknown_version_message.format(new_node, new_node.TEACHER_VERSION,
-                                                                        learner.LEARNER_VERSION)
+    assert warnings[1]['log_format'] == learner.unknown_version_message.format(new_node,
+                                                                               new_node.TEACHER_VERSION,
+                                                                               learner.LEARNER_VERSION)
 
     globalLogPublisher.removeObserver(warning_trapper)