diff --git a/src/tests/backend/common.js b/src/tests/backend/common.js
index 89f635012..1787ace7d 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend/common.js
+++ b/src/tests/backend/common.js
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 'use strict';
 
+const AttributePool = require('../../static/js/AttributePool');
 const apiHandler = require('../../node/handler/APIHandler');
+const assert = require('assert').strict;
 const io = require('socket.io-client');
 const log4js = require('log4js');
 const process = require('process');
@@ -185,6 +187,58 @@ exports.handshake = async (socket, padId) => {
   return msg;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Convenience wrapper around `socket.send()` that waits for acknowledgement.
+ */
+exports.sendMessage = async (socket, message) => await new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+  socket.send(message, (errInfo) => {
+    if (errInfo != null) {
+      const {name, message} = errInfo;
+      const err = new Error(message);
+      err.name = name;
+      reject(err);
+      return;
+    }
+    resolve();
+  });
+});
+
+/**
+ * Convenience function to send a USER_CHANGES message. Waits for acknowledgement.
+ */
+exports.sendUserChanges = async (socket, data) => await exports.sendMessage(socket, {
+  type: 'COLLABROOM',
+  component: 'pad',
+  data: {
+    type: 'USER_CHANGES',
+    apool: new AttributePool(),
+    ...data,
+  },
+});
+
+/**
+ * Convenience function that waits for an ACCEPT_COMMIT message. Asserts that the new revision
+ * matches the expected revision.
+ *
+ * Note: To avoid a race condition, this should be called before the USER_CHANGES message is sent.
+ * For example:
+ *
+ *     await Promise.all([
+ *       common.waitForAcceptCommit(socket, rev + 1),
+ *       common.sendUserChanges(socket, {baseRev: rev, changeset}),
+ *     ]);
+ */
+exports.waitForAcceptCommit = async (socket, wantRev) => {
+  const msg = await exports.waitForSocketEvent(socket, 'message');
+  assert.deepEqual(msg, {
+    type: 'COLLABROOM',
+    data: {
+      type: 'ACCEPT_COMMIT',
+      newRev: wantRev,
+    },
+  });
+};
+
 const alphabet = 'abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz';
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/tests/backend/specs/messages.js b/src/tests/backend/specs/messages.js
index 4c9f7e66c..2d5546d6c 100644
--- a/src/tests/backend/specs/messages.js
+++ b/src/tests/backend/specs/messages.js
@@ -36,27 +36,10 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
   });
 
   describe('USER_CHANGES', function () {
-    const sendUserChanges = (changeset, apool = new AttributePool()) => {
-      socket.json.send({
-        type: 'COLLABROOM',
-        component: 'pad',
-        data: {
-          type: 'USER_CHANGES',
-          baseRev: rev,
-          changeset,
-          apool: new AttributePool(),
-        },
-      });
-    };
+    const sendUserChanges =
+        async (changeset) => await common.sendUserChanges(socket, {baseRev: rev, changeset});
     const assertAccepted = async (wantRev) => {
-      const msg = await common.waitForSocketEvent(socket, 'message');
-      assert.deepEqual(msg, {
-        type: 'COLLABROOM',
-        data: {
-          type: 'ACCEPT_COMMIT',
-          newRev: wantRev,
-        },
-      });
+      await common.waitForAcceptCommit(socket, wantRev);
       rev = wantRev;
     };
     const assertRejected = async () => {
@@ -65,38 +48,55 @@ describe(__filename, function () {
     };
 
     it('changes are applied', async function () {
-      sendUserChanges('Z:1>5+5$hello');
-      await assertAccepted(rev + 1);
+      await Promise.all([
+        assertAccepted(rev + 1),
+        sendUserChanges('Z:1>5+5$hello'),
+      ]);
       assert.equal(pad.text(), 'hello\n');
     });
 
     it('bad changeset is rejected', async function () {
-      sendUserChanges('this is not a valid changeset');
-      await assertRejected();
+      await Promise.all([
+        assertRejected(),
+        sendUserChanges('this is not a valid changeset'),
+      ]);
     });
 
     it('retransmission is accepted, has no effect', async function () {
-      sendUserChanges('Z:1>5+5$hello');
-      await assertAccepted(rev + 1);
+      const cs = 'Z:1>5+5$hello';
+      await Promise.all([
+        assertAccepted(rev + 1),
+        sendUserChanges(cs),
+      ]);
       --rev;
-      sendUserChanges('Z:1>5+5$hello');
-      await assertAccepted(rev + 1);
+      await Promise.all([
+        assertAccepted(rev + 1),
+        sendUserChanges(cs),
+      ]);
       assert.equal(pad.text(), 'hello\n');
     });
 
     it('identity changeset is accepted, has no effect', async function () {
-      sendUserChanges('Z:1>5+5$hello');
-      await assertAccepted(rev + 1);
-      sendUserChanges('Z:6>0$');
-      await assertAccepted(rev);
+      await Promise.all([
+        assertAccepted(rev + 1),
+        sendUserChanges('Z:1>5+5$hello'),
+      ]);
+      await Promise.all([
+        assertAccepted(rev),
+        sendUserChanges('Z:6>0$'),
+      ]);
       assert.equal(pad.text(), 'hello\n');
     });
 
     it('non-identity changeset with no net change is accepted, has no effect', async function () {
-      sendUserChanges('Z:1>5+5$hello');
-      await assertAccepted(rev + 1);
-      sendUserChanges('Z:6>0-5+5$hello');
-      await assertAccepted(rev);
+      await Promise.all([
+        assertAccepted(rev + 1),
+        sendUserChanges('Z:1>5+5$hello'),
+      ]);
+      await Promise.all([
+        assertAccepted(rev),
+        sendUserChanges('Z:6>0-5+5$hello'),
+      ]);
       assert.equal(pad.text(), 'hello\n');
     });
   });