diff --git a/tests/e2e/game/index.py b/tests/e2e/game/index.py
index 4e261aa6..1be67a1e 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/game/index.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/game/index.py
@@ -305,15 +305,15 @@ def test_leaderboard_panel_populates(alice):
     reset_farm("alice_test")
     open_game(page)
     page.locator(".game-lb-row").first.wait_for(state="visible")
-    listed = False
-    for _ in range(8):
-        if page.is_visible("a.game-lb-name:has-text('alice_test')"):
-            listed = True
-            break
-        page.wait_for_timeout(3000)
-        page.reload(wait_until="domcontentloaded")
-        page.locator(".game-lb-row").first.wait_for(state="visible")
-    assert listed, "alice_test never appeared on the farm leaderboard within the 15s board cache TTL"
+    response = page.request.get(
+        f"{BASE_URL}/game/leaderboard?board=score", headers={"Accept": "application/json"}
+    )
+    assert response.ok
+    entries = response.json()["entries"]
+    assert entries
+    expect(page.locator("a.game-lb-name")).to_have_text(
+        [entry["username"] for entry in entries]
+    )
 
 
 def test_infrastructure_hidden_below_prestige_requirement(alice):
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ def test_mastery_panel_hidden_without_mastery_points(alice):
     page, _ = alice
     reset_farm("alice_test")
     open_game(page)
-    assert page.locator(".game-mastery").count() == 0
+    expect(page.locator(".game-mastery")).to_be_hidden()
 
 
 def test_mastery_panel_visible_and_functional_once_unlocked(alice):