diff --git a/playwright/e2e/crypto/invisible-crypto.spec.ts b/playwright/e2e/crypto/invisible-crypto.spec.ts
index f1272ec710..198abdac6d 100644
--- a/playwright/e2e/crypto/invisible-crypto.spec.ts
+++ b/playwright/e2e/crypto/invisible-crypto.spec.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import { bootstrapCrossSigningForClient } from "../../pages/client.ts";
 
 /** Tests for the "invisible crypto" behaviour -- i.e., when the "exclude insecure devices" setting is enabled */
 test.describe("Invisible cryptography", () => {
+    test.slow();
     test.use({
         displayName: "Alice",
         botCreateOpts: { displayName: "Bob" },
diff --git a/playwright/e2e/integration-manager/kick.spec.ts b/playwright/e2e/integration-manager/kick.spec.ts
index b12215fe33..b1aa9eff52 100644
--- a/playwright/e2e/integration-manager/kick.spec.ts
+++ b/playwright/e2e/integration-manager/kick.spec.ts
@@ -69,29 +69,13 @@ async function sendActionFromIntegrationManager(
     await iframe.getByRole("button", { name: "Press to send action" }).click();
 }
 
-async function clickUntilGone(page: Page, selector: string, attempt = 0) {
-    if (attempt === 11) {
-        throw new Error("clickUntilGone attempt count exceeded");
-    }
-
-    await page.locator(selector).last().click();
-
-    const count = await page.locator(selector).count();
-    if (count > 0) {
-        return clickUntilGone(page, selector, ++attempt);
-    }
-}
-
 async function expectKickedMessage(page: Page, shouldExist: boolean) {
-    // Expand any event summaries, we can't use a click multiple here because clicking one might de-render others
-    // This is quite horrible but seems the most stable way of clicking 0-N buttons,
-    // one at a time with a full re-evaluation after each click
-    await clickUntilGone(page, ".mx_GenericEventListSummary_toggle[aria-expanded=false]");
-
-    // Check for the event message (or lack thereof)
-    await expect(page.getByText(`${USER_DISPLAY_NAME} removed ${BOT_DISPLAY_NAME}: ${KICK_REASON}`)).toBeVisible({
-        visible: shouldExist,
-    });
+    await expect(async () => {
+        await page.locator(".mx_GenericEventListSummary_toggle[aria-expanded=false]").last().click();
+        await expect(page.getByText(`${USER_DISPLAY_NAME} removed ${BOT_DISPLAY_NAME}: ${KICK_REASON}`)).toBeVisible({
+            visible: shouldExist,
+        });
+    }).toPass();
 }
 
 test.describe("Integration Manager: Kick", () => {
diff --git a/playwright/e2e/read-receipts/reactions-in-threads.spec.ts b/playwright/e2e/read-receipts/reactions-in-threads.spec.ts
index eb733d3a12..350140965c 100644
--- a/playwright/e2e/read-receipts/reactions-in-threads.spec.ts
+++ b/playwright/e2e/read-receipts/reactions-in-threads.spec.ts
@@ -70,11 +70,7 @@ test.describe("Read receipts", { tag: "@mergequeue" }, () => {
                 // Given a thread exists and I have marked it as read
                 await util.goTo(room1);
                 await util.assertRead(room2);
-                await util.receiveMessages(room2, [
-                    "Msg1",
-                    msg.threadedOff("Msg1", "Reply1"),
-                    msg.reactionTo("Reply1", "🪿"),
-                ]);
+                await util.receiveMessages(room2, ["Msg1", msg.threadedOff("Msg1", "Reply1")]);
                 await util.assertUnread(room2, 1);
                 await util.markAsRead(room2);
                 await util.assertRead(room2);
diff --git a/playwright/e2e/timeline/timeline.spec.ts b/playwright/e2e/timeline/timeline.spec.ts
index 26d286b53a..885c15d90f 100644
--- a/playwright/e2e/timeline/timeline.spec.ts
+++ b/playwright/e2e/timeline/timeline.spec.ts
@@ -603,7 +603,12 @@ test.describe("Timeline", () => {
                 await messageEdit(page);
 
                 // Click timestamp to highlight hidden event line
-                await page.locator(".mx_RoomView_body .mx_EventTile_info .mx_MessageTimestamp").click();
+                const timestamp = page.locator(".mx_RoomView_body .mx_EventTile_info a", {
+                    has: page.locator(".mx_MessageTimestamp"),
+                });
+                // wait for the remote echo otherwise we get an error modal due to a 404 on the /event/ API
+                await expect(timestamp).not.toHaveAttribute("href", /~!/);
+                await timestamp.locator(".mx_MessageTimestamp").click();
 
                 // should not add inline start padding to a hidden event line on IRC layout
                 await app.settings.setValue("layout", null, SettingLevel.DEVICE, Layout.IRC);
diff --git a/playwright/services.ts b/playwright/services.ts
index 0703df60d6..c5d1e278d1 100644
--- a/playwright/services.ts
+++ b/playwright/services.ts
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ export const test = base.extend<TestFixtures, Services & Options>({
         { scope: "worker" },
     ],
     mailhogClient: async ({ mailhog: container }, use) => {
-        await use(container.client);
         await container.client.deleteAll();
+        await use(container.client);
     },
 
     synapseConfig: [{}, { scope: "worker" }],
@@ -141,6 +141,5 @@ export const test = base.extend<TestFixtures, Services & Options>({
         await logger.onTestStarted(context);
         await use(context);
         await logger.onTestFinished(testInfo);
-        await mailhogClient.deleteAll();
     },
 });
diff --git a/playwright/testcontainers/synapse.ts b/playwright/testcontainers/synapse.ts
index 22bfd9f665..3469082d10 100644
--- a/playwright/testcontainers/synapse.ts
+++ b/playwright/testcontainers/synapse.ts
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ export class StartedSynapseContainer extends AbstractStartedContainer implements
 
         const data = await res.json();
         return {
-            homeServer: data.home_server,
+            homeServer: data.home_server || data.user_id.split(":").slice(1).join(":"),
             accessToken: data.access_token,
             userId: data.user_id,
             deviceId: data.device_id,
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ export class StartedSynapseContainer extends AbstractStartedContainer implements
             accessToken: json.access_token,
             userId: json.user_id,
             deviceId: json.device_id,
-            homeServer: json.home_server,
+            homeServer: json.home_server || json.user_id.split(":").slice(1).join(":"),
             username: userId.slice(1).split(":")[0],
         };
     }