diff --git a/cypress/e2e/release-gate/favorite-services.cy.tsx b/cypress/e2e/release-gate/favorite-services.cy.tsx
index 6ec996e2e..365c9f21d 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/release-gate/favorite-services.cy.tsx
+++ b/cypress/e2e/release-gate/favorite-services.cy.tsx
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ describe('Favorite-services', () => {
     cy.visit('/');
     cy.login();
     cy.visit('/');
-    cy.reload();
     cy.intercept('GET', '/api/chrome-service/v1/user', {
       data: {
         id: 2435,
@@ -42,6 +41,12 @@ describe('Favorite-services', () => {
         },
       },
     });
+    cy.intercept({
+      method: 'GET',
+      url: '**/services/services.json',
+    }).as('services');
+
+    cy.wait('@services').its('response.statusCode').should('equal', 200);
     // check if a favorites link exists on the page
     cy.get('.pf-c-menu-toggle__text').click();
     cy.contains('View all services').click();
@@ -67,7 +72,6 @@ describe('Favorite-services', () => {
     });
     cy.contains(serviceName).parent('.chr-c-favorite-trigger.chr-c-icon-favorited').should('exist');
     cy.get('.pf-c-brand').click();
-    cy.reload();
     cy.intercept('GET', '/api/chrome-service/v1/user', {
       data: {
         id: 24353452,
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/release-gate/landing-page.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/release-gate/landing-page.cy.ts
index 859aaad08..f2cdb454a 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/release-gate/landing-page.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/release-gate/landing-page.cy.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,6 @@ describe('Landing page', () => {
     cy.wait('@services').its('response.statusCode').should('equal', 200);
 
     // check if a favorites link exists on the page
-    cy.contains('View my favorite services').should('exist');
+    cy.contains('My favorite services').should('exist');
   });
 });
diff --git a/cypress/e2e/spec.cy.ts b/cypress/e2e/spec.cy.ts
index fa48cddaf..6c31673c8 100644
--- a/cypress/e2e/spec.cy.ts
+++ b/cypress/e2e/spec.cy.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 describe('empty spec', () => {
   it('passes', () => {
-    cy.visit('https://example.cypress.io');
+    // authenticate the session
+    cy.login();
   });
 });