diff --git a/test/functional/feature_assumeutxo.py b/test/functional/feature_assumeutxo.py
index 2995ece42fa..138b3234621 100755
--- a/test/functional/feature_assumeutxo.py
+++ b/test/functional/feature_assumeutxo.py
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ to a hash that has been compiled into bitcoind.
 The assumeutxo value generated and used here is committed to in
 `CRegTestParams::m_assumeutxo_data` in `src/kernel/chainparams.cpp`.
 """
-import time
 from shutil import rmtree
 
 from dataclasses import dataclass
@@ -31,6 +30,7 @@ from test_framework.util import (
     assert_approx,
     assert_equal,
     assert_raises_rpc_error,
+    ensure_for,
     sha256sum_file,
     try_rpc,
 )
@@ -305,8 +305,7 @@ class AssumeutxoTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         # If it does request such blocks, the snapshot_node will ignore requests it cannot fulfill, causing the ibd_node
         # to stall. This stall could last for up to 10 min, ultimately resulting in an abrupt disconnection due to the
         # ibd_node's perceived unresponsiveness.
-        time.sleep(3)  # Sleep here because we can't detect when a node avoids requesting blocks from other peer.
-        assert_equal(len(ibd_node.getpeerinfo()[0]['inflight']), 0)
+        ensure_for(duration=3, f=lambda: len(ibd_node.getpeerinfo()[0]['inflight']) == 0)
 
         # Now disconnect nodes and finish background chain sync
         self.disconnect_nodes(ibd_node.index, snapshot_node.index)
diff --git a/test/functional/feature_minchainwork.py b/test/functional/feature_minchainwork.py
index 34228f6f380..d6654ef8ed9 100755
--- a/test/functional/feature_minchainwork.py
+++ b/test/functional/feature_minchainwork.py
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ import time
 
 from test_framework.p2p import P2PInterface, msg_getheaders
 from test_framework.test_framework import BitcoinTestFramework
-from test_framework.util import assert_equal
+from test_framework.util import (
+    assert_equal,
+    ensure_for,
+)
 
 # 2 hashes required per regtest block (with no difficulty adjustment)
 REGTEST_WORK_PER_BLOCK = 2
@@ -58,18 +61,14 @@ class MinimumChainWorkTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         hashes = self.generate(self.nodes[0], num_blocks_to_generate, sync_fun=self.no_op)
 
         self.log.info(f"Node0 current chain work: {self.nodes[0].getblockheader(hashes[-1])['chainwork']}")
-
-        # Sleep a few seconds and verify that node2 didn't get any new blocks
-        # or headers.  We sleep, rather than sync_blocks(node0, node1) because
-        # it's reasonable either way for node1 to get the blocks, or not get
-        # them (since they're below node1's minchainwork).
-        time.sleep(3)
-
         self.log.info("Verifying node 2 has no more blocks than before")
         self.log.info(f"Blockcounts: {[n.getblockcount() for n in self.nodes]}")
         # Node2 shouldn't have any new headers yet, because node1 should not
         # have relayed anything.
-        assert_equal(len(self.nodes[2].getchaintips()), 1)
+        # We wait 3 seconds, rather than sync_blocks(node0, node1) because
+        # it's reasonable either way for node1 to get the blocks, or not get
+        # them (since they're below node1's minchainwork).
+        ensure_for(duration=3, f=lambda: len(self.nodes[2].getchaintips()) == 1)
         assert_equal(self.nodes[2].getchaintips()[0]['height'], 0)
 
         assert self.nodes[1].getbestblockhash() != self.nodes[0].getbestblockhash()
@@ -81,8 +80,7 @@ class MinimumChainWorkTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         msg.locator.vHave = [int(self.nodes[2].getbestblockhash(), 16)]
         msg.hashstop = 0
         peer.send_and_ping(msg)
-        time.sleep(5)
-        assert "headers" not in peer.last_message or len(peer.last_message["headers"].headers) == 0
+        ensure_for(duration=5, f=lambda: "headers" not in peer.last_message or len(peer.last_message["headers"].headers) == 0)
 
         self.log.info("Generating one more block")
         self.generate(self.nodes[0], 1)
diff --git a/test/functional/interface_zmq.py b/test/functional/interface_zmq.py
index b5a71ba4836..96e701a7fd0 100755
--- a/test/functional/interface_zmq.py
+++ b/test/functional/interface_zmq.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 import os
 import struct
 import tempfile
-from time import sleep
 from io import BytesIO
 
 from test_framework.address import (
@@ -27,6 +26,7 @@ from test_framework.messages import (
 from test_framework.util import (
     assert_equal,
     assert_raises_rpc_error,
+    ensure_for,
     p2p_port,
 )
 from test_framework.wallet import (
@@ -394,11 +394,10 @@ class ZMQTest (BitcoinTestFramework):
         block_count = self.nodes[0].getblockcount()
         best_hash = self.nodes[0].getbestblockhash()
         self.nodes[0].invalidateblock(best_hash)
-        sleep(2)  # Bit of room to make sure transaction things happened
 
         # Make sure getrawmempool mempool_sequence results aren't "queued" but immediately reflective
         # of the time they were gathered.
-        assert self.nodes[0].getrawmempool(mempool_sequence=True)["mempool_sequence"] > seq_num
+        ensure_for(duration=2, f=lambda: self.nodes[0].getrawmempool(mempool_sequence=True)["mempool_sequence"] > seq_num)
 
         assert_equal((best_hash, "D", None), seq.receive_sequence())
         assert_equal((rbf_txid, "A", seq_num), seq.receive_sequence())
diff --git a/test/functional/mempool_unbroadcast.py b/test/functional/mempool_unbroadcast.py
index 7c96b4b570d..b9692d2e21d 100755
--- a/test/functional/mempool_unbroadcast.py
+++ b/test/functional/mempool_unbroadcast.py
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@
 """Test that the mempool ensures transaction delivery by periodically sending
 to peers until a GETDATA is received."""
 
-import time
-
 from test_framework.p2p import P2PTxInvStore
 from test_framework.test_framework import BitcoinTestFramework
-from test_framework.util import assert_equal
+from test_framework.util import (
+    assert_equal,
+    ensure_for,
+)
 from test_framework.wallet import MiniWallet
 
 MAX_INITIAL_BROADCAST_DELAY = 15 * 60 # 15 minutes in seconds
@@ -83,8 +84,8 @@ class MempoolUnbroadcastTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
 
         conn = node.add_p2p_connection(P2PTxInvStore())
         node.mockscheduler(MAX_INITIAL_BROADCAST_DELAY)
-        time.sleep(2) # allow sufficient time for possibility of broadcast
-        assert_equal(len(conn.get_invs()), 0)
+        # allow sufficient time for possibility of broadcast
+        ensure_for(duration=2, f=lambda: len(conn.get_invs()) == 0)
 
         self.disconnect_nodes(0, 1)
         node.disconnect_p2ps()
diff --git a/test/functional/p2p_segwit.py b/test/functional/p2p_segwit.py
index 9be53d2ab8b..ac35762427e 100755
--- a/test/functional/p2p_segwit.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p_segwit.py
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 """Test segwit transactions and blocks on P2P network."""
 from decimal import Decimal
 import random
-import time
 
 from test_framework.blocktools import (
     WITNESS_COMMITMENT_HEADER,
@@ -83,8 +82,9 @@ from test_framework.script_util import (
 from test_framework.test_framework import BitcoinTestFramework
 from test_framework.util import (
     assert_equal,
-    softfork_active,
     assert_raises_rpc_error,
+    ensure_for,
+    softfork_active,
 )
 from test_framework.wallet import MiniWallet
 from test_framework.wallet_util import generate_keypair
@@ -184,8 +184,7 @@ class TestP2PConn(P2PInterface):
             else:
                 self.wait_for_getdata([tx.sha256])
         else:
-            time.sleep(5)
-            assert not self.last_message.get("getdata")
+            ensure_for(duration=5, f=lambda: not self.last_message.get("getdata"))
 
     def announce_block_and_wait_for_getdata(self, block, use_header, timeout=60):
         with p2p_lock:
diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/p2p.py b/test/functional/test_framework/p2p.py
index 4a03fdd16d8..a7d6c36e303 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/p2p.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/p2p.py
@@ -585,13 +585,13 @@ class P2PInterface(P2PConnection):
 
     # Connection helper methods
 
-    def wait_until(self, test_function_in, *, timeout=60, check_connected=True):
+    def wait_until(self, test_function_in, *, timeout=60, check_connected=True, check_interval=0.05):
         def test_function():
             if check_connected:
                 assert self.is_connected
             return test_function_in()
 
-        wait_until_helper_internal(test_function, timeout=timeout, lock=p2p_lock, timeout_factor=self.timeout_factor)
+        wait_until_helper_internal(test_function, timeout=timeout, lock=p2p_lock, timeout_factor=self.timeout_factor, check_interval=check_interval)
 
     def wait_for_connect(self, *, timeout=60):
         test_function = lambda: self.is_connected
diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py b/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py
index 70ec8f09880..bc8cd0e82cb 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py
@@ -787,8 +787,8 @@ class BitcoinTestFramework(metaclass=BitcoinTestMetaClass):
         self.sync_blocks(nodes)
         self.sync_mempools(nodes)
 
-    def wait_until(self, test_function, timeout=60):
-        return wait_until_helper_internal(test_function, timeout=timeout, timeout_factor=self.options.timeout_factor)
+    def wait_until(self, test_function, timeout=60, check_interval=0.05):
+        return wait_until_helper_internal(test_function, timeout=timeout, timeout_factor=self.options.timeout_factor, check_interval=check_interval)
 
     # Private helper methods. These should not be accessed by the subclass test scripts.
 
diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/test_node.py b/test/functional/test_framework/test_node.py
index f1083dc1ce6..ff94e864682 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/test_node.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/test_node.py
@@ -837,8 +837,8 @@ class TestNode():
         self.mocktime += seconds
         self.setmocktime(self.mocktime)
 
-    def wait_until(self, test_function, timeout=60):
-        return wait_until_helper_internal(test_function, timeout=timeout, timeout_factor=self.timeout_factor)
+    def wait_until(self, test_function, timeout=60, check_interval=0.05):
+        return wait_until_helper_internal(test_function, timeout=timeout, timeout_factor=self.timeout_factor, check_interval=check_interval)
 
 
 class TestNodeCLIAttr:
diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/util.py b/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
index f9b19f218e3..ab2a5d38d6a 100644
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/util.py
@@ -268,7 +268,28 @@ def satoshi_round(amount: Union[int, float, str], *, rounding: str) -> Decimal:
     return Decimal(amount).quantize(SATOSHI_PRECISION, rounding=rounding)
 
 
-def wait_until_helper_internal(predicate, *, attempts=float('inf'), timeout=float('inf'), lock=None, timeout_factor=1.0):
+def ensure_for(*, duration, f, check_interval=0.2):
+    """Check if the predicate keeps returning True for duration.
+
+    check_interval can be used to configure the wait time between checks.
+    Setting check_interval to 0 will allow to have two checks: one in the
+    beginning and one after duration.
+    """
+    # If check_interval is 0 or negative or larger than duration, we fall back
+    # to checking once in the beginning and once at the end of duration
+    if check_interval <= 0 or check_interval > duration:
+        check_interval = duration
+    time_end = time.time() + duration
+    predicate_source = "''''\n" + inspect.getsource(f) + "'''"
+    while True:
+        if not f():
+            raise AssertionError(f"Predicate {predicate_source} became false within {duration} seconds")
+        if time.time() > time_end:
+            return
+        time.sleep(check_interval)
+
+
+def wait_until_helper_internal(predicate, *, timeout=60, lock=None, timeout_factor=1.0, check_interval=0.05):
     """Sleep until the predicate resolves to be True.
 
     Warning: Note that this method is not recommended to be used in tests as it is
@@ -277,13 +298,10 @@ def wait_until_helper_internal(predicate, *, attempts=float('inf'), timeout=floa
     properly scaled. Furthermore, `wait_until()` from `P2PInterface` class in
     `p2p.py` has a preset lock.
     """
-    if attempts == float('inf') and timeout == float('inf'):
-        timeout = 60
     timeout = timeout * timeout_factor
-    attempt = 0
     time_end = time.time() + timeout
 
-    while attempt < attempts and time.time() < time_end:
+    while time.time() < time_end:
         if lock:
             with lock:
                 if predicate():
@@ -291,17 +309,12 @@ def wait_until_helper_internal(predicate, *, attempts=float('inf'), timeout=floa
         else:
             if predicate():
                 return
-        attempt += 1
-        time.sleep(0.05)
+        time.sleep(check_interval)
 
     # Print the cause of the timeout
     predicate_source = "''''\n" + inspect.getsource(predicate) + "'''"
     logger.error("wait_until() failed. Predicate: {}".format(predicate_source))
-    if attempt >= attempts:
-        raise AssertionError("Predicate {} not true after {} attempts".format(predicate_source, attempts))
-    elif time.time() >= time_end:
-        raise AssertionError("Predicate {} not true after {} seconds".format(predicate_source, timeout))
-    raise RuntimeError('Unreachable')
+    raise AssertionError("Predicate {} not true after {} seconds".format(predicate_source, timeout))
 
 
 def sha256sum_file(filename):
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_inactive_hdchains.py b/test/functional/wallet_inactive_hdchains.py
index 3b0c09c02be..1a2ea5b9ff1 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_inactive_hdchains.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_inactive_hdchains.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 Test Inactive HD Chains.
 """
 import shutil
-import time
 
 from test_framework.authproxy import JSONRPCException
 from test_framework.test_framework import BitcoinTestFramework
@@ -75,12 +74,13 @@ class InactiveHDChainsTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         self.generate(self.nodes[0], 1)
 
         # Wait for the test wallet to see the transaction
-        while True:
+        def is_tx_available(txid):
             try:
                 test_wallet.gettransaction(txid)
-                break
+                return True
             except JSONRPCException:
-                time.sleep(0.1)
+                return False
+        self.nodes[0].wait_until(lambda: is_tx_available(txid), timeout=10, check_interval=0.1)
 
         if encrypt:
             # The test wallet will not be able to generate the topped up keypool
diff --git a/test/functional/wallet_multiwallet.py b/test/functional/wallet_multiwallet.py
index 9a339088fc3..e241edd3fa6 100755
--- a/test/functional/wallet_multiwallet.py
+++ b/test/functional/wallet_multiwallet.py
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import os
 import platform
 import shutil
 import stat
-import time
 
 from test_framework.authproxy import JSONRPCException
 from test_framework.blocktools import COINBASE_MATURITY
@@ -21,6 +20,7 @@ from test_framework.test_node import ErrorMatch
 from test_framework.util import (
     assert_equal,
     assert_raises_rpc_error,
+    ensure_for,
     get_rpc_proxy,
 )
 
@@ -373,8 +373,7 @@ class MultiWalletTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         w2.encryptwallet('test')
         w2.walletpassphrase('test', 1)
         w2.unloadwallet()
-        time.sleep(1.1)
-        assert 'w2' not in self.nodes[0].listwallets()
+        ensure_for(duration=1.1, f=lambda: 'w2' not in self.nodes[0].listwallets())
 
         # Successfully unload all wallets
         for wallet_name in self.nodes[0].listwallets():