diff --git a/tests/check/elements/fakesink.c b/tests/check/elements/fakesink.c
index b8e7321bb3..352031ab62 100644
--- a/tests/check/elements/fakesink.c
+++ b/tests/check/elements/fakesink.c
@@ -953,12 +953,13 @@ test_notify_race_setup_pipeline (NotifyRacePipeline * p)
   gst_bin_add (GST_BIN (p->pipe), p->sink);
   gst_element_link_many (p->src, p->queue, p->sink, NULL);
 
-  GST_DEBUG ("Setting pipeline to PLAYING");
-  fail_unless_equals_int (gst_element_set_state (p->pipe, GST_STATE_PLAYING),
+  GST_DEBUG ("Setting pipeline to PAUSED..");
+  fail_unless_equals_int (gst_element_set_state (p->pipe, GST_STATE_PAUSED),
       GST_STATE_CHANGE_ASYNC);
-  GST_DEBUG ("Getting state");
+  GST_DEBUG ("Waiting for pipeline to preroll..");
   fail_unless_equals_int (gst_element_get_state (p->pipe, NULL, NULL, -1),
       GST_STATE_CHANGE_SUCCESS);
+  GST_DEBUG ("Ready to party!");
 }
 
 static void
@@ -977,10 +978,15 @@ GST_START_TEST (test_notify_race)
   int i;
 
   for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS (pipelines); ++i) {
-    GST_DEBUG ("Starting up pipeline %d", i);
+    GST_DEBUG ("Setting up pipeline %d", i);
     test_notify_race_setup_pipeline (&pipelines[i]);
   }
 
+  for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS (pipelines); ++i) {
+    GST_DEBUG ("Starting pipeline %d", i);
+    gst_element_set_state (pipelines[i].pipe, GST_STATE_PLAYING);
+  }
+
   g_usleep (2 * G_USEC_PER_SEC);
 
   for (i = 0; i < G_N_ELEMENTS (pipelines); ++i) {