diff --git a/ethclient/ethclient_test.go b/ethclient/ethclient_test.go
index 8e70177944..815bc29de4 100644
--- a/ethclient/ethclient_test.go
+++ b/ethclient/ethclient_test.go
@@ -110,6 +110,12 @@ func newTestBackend(config *node.Config) (*node.Node, []*types.Block, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("can't create new ethereum service: %v", err)
 	}
+	// Ensure tx pool starts the background operation
+	txPool := ethservice.TxPool()
+	if err = txPool.Sync(); err != nil {
+		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("can't sync transaction pool: %v", err)
+	}
+
 	// Import the test chain.
 	if err := n.Start(); err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, fmt.Errorf("can't start test node: %v", err)
@@ -506,8 +512,9 @@ func testAtFunctions(t *testing.T, client *rpc.Client) {
 	}
 
 	// send a transaction for some interesting pending status
-	// and wait for the transaction to be included in the pending block
-	sendTransaction(ec)
+	if err := sendTransaction(ec); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("unexpected error: %v", err)
+	}
 
 	// wait for the transaction to be included in the pending block
 	for {