diff --git a/tests/threadstate/threadstate1.c b/tests/threadstate/threadstate1.c
index bf1831d5a9..5ab841f96c 100644
--- a/tests/threadstate/threadstate1.c
+++ b/tests/threadstate/threadstate1.c
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 #include <gst/gst.h>
 
+/* this pipeline is:
+ * { fakesrc ! fakesink }
+ */
+
+
 int main(int argc,char *argv[]) 
 {
   GstElement *fakesrc, *fakesink;
diff --git a/tests/threadstate/threadstate2.c b/tests/threadstate/threadstate2.c
index 0aff932291..f1013d34c4 100644
--- a/tests/threadstate/threadstate2.c
+++ b/tests/threadstate/threadstate2.c
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 #include <gst/gst.h>
 
+/* this pipeline is:
+ * { filesrc ! mad ! osssink }
+ */
+
 /* eos will be called when the src element has an end of stream */
 void eos(GstElement *element, gpointer data) 
 {
@@ -51,7 +55,7 @@ int main(int argc,char *argv[])
   for (x = 0 ; x < 10 ; x++){
     g_print("playing %d\n", x);
     gst_element_set_state(GST_ELEMENT(thread), GST_STATE_PLAYING);
-    sleep(5);
+    sleep(2);
 
     g_print("pausing %d\n", x);
     gst_element_set_state(GST_ELEMENT(thread), GST_STATE_PAUSED);
diff --git a/tests/threadstate/threadstate3.c b/tests/threadstate/threadstate3.c
index a88439e539..f565212d3a 100644
--- a/tests/threadstate/threadstate3.c
+++ b/tests/threadstate/threadstate3.c
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 #include <gst/gst.h>
 
+/* this pipeline is:
+ * { { fakesrc ! fakesink } }
+ */
+
 int main(int argc,char *argv[]) 
 {
   GstElement *fakesrc, *fakesink;
@@ -30,8 +34,8 @@ int main(int argc,char *argv[])
     gst_element_set_state(GST_ELEMENT(thread), GST_STATE_PLAYING);
     sleep(1);
 
-    g_print("pausing %d\n", x);
-    gst_element_set_state(GST_ELEMENT(thread), GST_STATE_PAUSED);
+    g_print("nulling %d\n", x);
+    gst_element_set_state(GST_ELEMENT(thread), GST_STATE_NULL);
     sleep(1);
   }