diff --git a/ssb/tests/test_packet_stream.py b/ssb/tests/test_packet_stream.py
index 6863a30..c6c6fb0 100644
--- a/ssb/tests/test_packet_stream.py
+++ b/ssb/tests/test_packet_stream.py
@@ -60,25 +60,25 @@ class MockSHSSocket(SHSSocket):
     def disconnect(self):
         self.is_connected = False
 
-    def _set_connected(self):
-        self.is_connected = True
-        for cb in self._on_connect:
-            ensure_future(cb(), loop=self.loop)
-
 
 class MockSHSClient(MockSHSSocket):
-    connect = MockSHSSocket._set_connected
+    async def connect(self):
+        self.is_connected = True
+        for cb in self._on_connect:
+            await cb()
 
 
 class MockSHSServer(MockSHSSocket):
-    listen = MockSHSSocket._set_connected
+    def listen(self):
+        self.is_connected = True
+        for cb in self._on_connect:
+            ensure_future(cb(), loop=self.loop)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture
 def ps_client(event_loop):
     client = PSClient('fake.local', 1000, SigningKey.generate(), b'\00' * 32, socket_class=MockSHSClient,
                       loop=event_loop)
-    client.connect()
     return client
 
 
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ async def test_on_connect(ps_server):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_message_decoding(ps_client):
+    await ps_client.connect()
     assert ps_client.is_connected
 
     ps_client.connection.feed([
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ async def test_message_decoding(ps_client):
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_message_encoding(ps_client):
+    await ps_client.connect()
     assert ps_client.is_connected
 
     ps_client.send({
@@ -142,16 +144,23 @@ async def test_message_encoding(ps_client):
         'type': 'source'
     }, stream=True)
 
-    body = (b'{"name": ["createHistoryStream"], "args": [{"id": "@1+Iwm79DKvVBqYKFkhT6fWRbAVvNNVH4F2BSxwhYmx8=.ed25519"'
-            b', "seq": 1, "live": false, "keys": false}], "type": "source"}')
+    header, body = list(ps_client.connection.get_output())
 
-    assert list(ps_client.connection.get_output()) == [b'\x0a\x00\x00\x00\xa6\x00\x00\x00\x01', body]
+    assert header == b'\x0a\x00\x00\x00\xa6\x00\x00\x00\x01'
+    assert json.loads(body.decode('utf-8')) == {
+        "name": ["createHistoryStream"],
+        "args": [
+            {"id": "@1+Iwm79DKvVBqYKFkhT6fWRbAVvNNVH4F2BSxwhYmx8=.ed25519", "seq": 1, "live": False, "keys": False}
+        ],
+        "type": "source"
+    }
 
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_message_stream(ps_client, mocker):
     mocker.patch.object(ps_client, 'register_handler', wraps=ps_client.register_handler)
 
+    await ps_client.connect()
     assert ps_client.is_connected
 
     ps_client.send({
@@ -223,8 +232,9 @@ async def test_message_request(ps_server, mocker):
         'args': []
     })
 
-    assert (list(ps_server.connection.get_output()) ==
-            [b'\x02\x00\x00\x00 \x00\x00\x00\x01', b'{"name": ["whoami"], "args": []}'])
+    header, body = list(ps_server.connection.get_output())
+    assert header == b'\x02\x00\x00\x00 \x00\x00\x00\x01'
+    assert json.loads(body.decode('utf-8')) == {"name": ["whoami"], "args": []}
 
     assert ps_server.req_counter == 2
     assert ps_server.register_handler.call_count == 1