diff --git a/lotus-soup/node.go b/lotus-soup/node.go
index ee17e981a..375d25682 100644
--- a/lotus-soup/node.go
+++ b/lotus-soup/node.go
@@ -107,30 +107,22 @@ func prepareBootstrapper(t *TestEnvironment) (*Node, error) {
 
 	// the first duty of the boostrapper is to construct the genesis block
 	// first collect all client and miner balances to assign initial funds
-	balanceMsgs := make([]*InitialBalanceMsg, 0, nodes)
-	balanceCh := make(chan *InitialBalanceMsg)
-
-	t.SyncClient.MustSubscribe(ctx, balanceTopic, balanceCh)
-	for i := 0; i < nodes; i++ {
-		m := <-balanceCh
-		balanceMsgs = append(balanceMsgs, m)
+	balances, err := waitForBalances(t, ctx, nodes)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	// then collect all preseals from miners
-	presealMsgs := make([]*PresealMsg, 0, miners)
-	presealCh := make(chan *PresealMsg)
-
-	t.SyncClient.MustSubscribe(ctx, presealTopic, presealCh)
-	for i := 0; i < miners; i++ {
-		m := <-presealCh
-		presealMsgs = append(presealMsgs, m)
+	preseals, err := collectPreseals(t, ctx, miners)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
 	}
 
 	// now construct the genesis block
 	var genesisActors []genesis.Actor
 	var genesisMiners []genesis.Miner
 
-	for _, bm := range balanceMsgs {
+	for _, bm := range balances {
 		genesisActors = append(genesisActors,
 			genesis.Actor{
 				Type:    genesis.TAccount,
@@ -139,7 +131,7 @@ func prepareBootstrapper(t *TestEnvironment) (*Node, error) {
 			})
 	}
 
-	for _, pm := range presealMsgs {
+	for _, pm := range preseals {
 		genesisMiners = append(genesisMiners, pm.Miner)
 	}
 
@@ -272,9 +264,10 @@ func prepareMiner(t *TestEnvironment) (*Node, error) {
 	t.SyncClient.Publish(ctx, presealTopic, presealMsg)
 
 	// then collect the genesis block and bootstrapper address
-	genesisCh := make(chan *GenesisMsg)
-	t.SyncClient.MustSubscribe(ctx, genesisTopic, genesisCh)
-	genesisMsg := <-genesisCh
+	genesisMsg, err := waitForGenesis(t, ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	// prepare the repo
 	minerRepo := repo.NewMemory(nil)
@@ -425,9 +418,10 @@ func prepareClient(t *TestEnvironment) (*Node, error) {
 	t.SyncClient.Publish(ctx, balanceTopic, balanceMsg)
 
 	// then collect the genesis block and bootstrapper address
-	genesisCh := make(chan *GenesisMsg)
-	t.SyncClient.MustSubscribe(ctx, genesisTopic, genesisCh)
-	genesisMsg := <-genesisCh
+	genesisMsg, err := waitForGenesis(t, ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
 
 	clientIP := t.NetClient.MustGetDataNetworkIP().String()
 
@@ -516,3 +510,49 @@ func withMinerListenAddress(ip string) node.Option {
 	addrs := []string{fmt.Sprintf("/ip4/%s/tcp/4002", ip)}
 	return node.Override(node.StartListeningKey, lp2p.StartListening(addrs))
 }
+
+func waitForBalances(t *TestEnvironment, ctx context.Context, nodes int) ([]*InitialBalanceMsg, error) {
+	ch := make(chan *InitialBalanceMsg)
+	sub := t.SyncClient.MustSubscribe(ctx, balanceTopic, ch)
+
+	balances := make([]*InitialBalanceMsg, 0, nodes)
+	for i := 0; i < nodes; i++ {
+		select {
+		case m := <-ch:
+			balances = append(balances, m)
+		case err := <-sub.Done():
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("got error while waiting for balances: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return balances, nil
+}
+
+func collectPreseals(t *TestEnvironment, ctx context.Context, miners int) ([]*PresealMsg, error) {
+	ch := make(chan *PresealMsg)
+	sub := t.SyncClient.MustSubscribe(ctx, presealTopic, ch)
+
+	preseals := make([]*PresealMsg, 0, miners)
+	for i := 0; i < miners; i++ {
+		select {
+		case m := <-ch:
+			preseals = append(preseals, m)
+		case err := <-sub.Done():
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("got error while waiting for preseals: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	return preseals, nil
+}
+
+func waitForGenesis(t *TestEnvironment, ctx context.Context) (*GenesisMsg, error) {
+	genesisCh := make(chan *GenesisMsg)
+	sub := t.SyncClient.MustSubscribe(ctx, genesisTopic, genesisCh)
+
+	select {
+	case genesisMsg := <-genesisCh:
+		return genesisMsg, nil
+	case err := <-sub.Done():
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("error while waiting for genesis msg: %w", err)
+	}
+}