diff --git a/acceptance-tests/tests/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/permissioning/NodeSmartContractPermissioningAcceptanceTest.java b/acceptance-tests/tests/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/permissioning/NodeSmartContractPermissioningAcceptanceTest.java
index 3eb746b7ae..7c8c78c4b3 100644
--- a/acceptance-tests/tests/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/permissioning/NodeSmartContractPermissioningAcceptanceTest.java
+++ b/acceptance-tests/tests/src/test/java/org/hyperledger/besu/tests/acceptance/permissioning/NodeSmartContractPermissioningAcceptanceTest.java
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ public class NodeSmartContractPermissioningAcceptanceTest
 
     permissionedNode.execute(allowNode(permissionedNode));
     permissionedNode.verify(nodeIsAllowed(permissionedNode));
+
+    permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(bootnode));
+    permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(allowedNode));
   }
 
   @Test
@@ -58,38 +61,18 @@ public class NodeSmartContractPermissioningAcceptanceTest
 
   @Test
   public void permissionedNodeShouldDisconnectFromNodeNotPermittedAnymore() {
-    permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(bootnode));
-    permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(allowedNode));
-    permissionedNode.verify(net.awaitPeerCount(2));
-
     permissionedNode.execute(forbidNode(allowedNode));
     permissionedNode.verify(connectionIsForbidden(permissionedNode, allowedNode));
 
     permissionedNode.verify(net.awaitPeerCount(1));
   }
 
-  @Test
-  public void permissionedNodeShouldConnectToNewlyPermittedNode() {
-    permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(bootnode));
-    permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(allowedNode));
-    permissionedNode.verify(net.awaitPeerCount(2));
-
-    permissionedNode.execute(allowNode(forbiddenNode));
-    permissionedNode.verify(connectionIsAllowed(permissionedNode, forbiddenNode));
-    permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(forbiddenNode));
-
-    permissionedNode.verify(net.awaitPeerCount(3));
-  }
-
   @Test
   public void permissioningUpdatesPropagateThroughNetwork() {
-    permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(bootnode));
-    permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(allowedNode));
-    permissionedNode.verify(net.awaitPeerCount(2));
-
-    // permissioning changes in peer should propagate to permissioned node
+    // connection to newly permitted node is allowed
     allowedNode.execute(allowNode(forbiddenNode));
     allowedNode.verify(connectionIsAllowed(permissionedNode, forbiddenNode));
+    // permissioning changes in peer should propagate to permissioned node
     permissionedNode.verify(connectionIsAllowed(permissionedNode, forbiddenNode));
 
     permissionedNode.verify(admin.addPeer(forbiddenNode));