diff --git a/futurist/tests/test_executors.py b/futurist/tests/test_executors.py
index c1ee549..f354e76 100644
--- a/futurist/tests/test_executors.py
+++ b/futurist/tests/test_executors.py
@@ -12,8 +12,10 @@
 # License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 # under the License.
 
+import threading
 import time
 
+from eventlet.green import threading as green_threading
 import testscenarios
 from testtools import testcase
 
@@ -140,29 +142,41 @@ class TestExecutors(testscenarios.TestWithScenarios, base.TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(5, len(happy_completed))
 
 
-_REJECTION = rejection.reject_when_reached(1)
-
-
 class TestRejection(testscenarios.TestWithScenarios, base.TestCase):
+    rejector = rejection.reject_when_reached(1)
+
     scenarios = [
         ('green', {'executor_cls': futurist.GreenThreadPoolExecutor,
-                   'executor_kwargs': {'check_and_reject': _REJECTION,
-                                       'max_workers': 1}}),
+                   'executor_kwargs': {'check_and_reject': rejector,
+                                       'max_workers': 1},
+                   'event_cls': green_threading.Event}),
         ('thread', {'executor_cls': futurist.ThreadPoolExecutor,
-                    'executor_kwargs': {'check_and_reject': _REJECTION,
-                                        'max_workers': 1}}),
+                    'executor_kwargs': {'check_and_reject': rejector,
+                                        'max_workers': 1},
+                    'event_cls': threading.Event}),
     ]
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(TestRejection, self).setUp()
         self.executor = self.executor_cls(**self.executor_kwargs)
+        self.addCleanup(self.executor.shutdown, wait=True)
 
     def test_rejection(self):
-        self.addCleanup(self.executor.shutdown)
+        ev = self.event_cls()
+        ev_thread_started = self.event_cls()
+        self.addCleanup(ev.set)
+
+        def wait_until_set(check_delay):
+            ev_thread_started.set()
+            while not ev.is_set():
+                ev.wait(check_delay)
 
         # 1 worker + 1 item of backlog
-        for _i in range(2):
-            self.executor.submit(delayed, 0.5)
+        self.executor.submit(wait_until_set, 0.1)
+        # ensure the above thread has started before doing anything
+        # else.
+        ev_thread_started.wait()
+        self.executor.submit(wait_until_set, 0.1)
 
         self.assertRaises(futurist.RejectedSubmission,
                           self.executor.submit, returns_one)