diff --git a/test/playwright/conftest.py b/test/playwright/conftest.py
index 1b09f67e..c7737983 100644
--- a/test/playwright/conftest.py
+++ b/test/playwright/conftest.py
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 import pytest
 
+from playwright.sync_api import expect
+
+
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
     parser.addoption("--screenshots", action="store", default="false")
diff --git a/test/playwright/test_ux.py b/test/playwright/test_ux.py
index 5260e280..46355617 100644
--- a/test/playwright/test_ux.py
+++ b/test/playwright/test_ux.py
@@ -6,11 +6,14 @@
 import time
 
 import pytest
-from playwright.sync_api import Page
-from playwright.sync_api import sync_playwright
+from playwright.sync_api import Page, sync_playwright, expect
 import random
 
 
+DEFAULT_TIMEOUT = 30_000  # time in ms
+
+expect.set_options(timeout=DEFAULT_TIMEOUT)
+
 CONDA_STORE_SERVER_PORT = os.environ.get(
     "CONDA_STORE_SERVER_PORT", f"8080"
 )
@@ -119,11 +122,11 @@ def _create_new_environment(page, screenshot=False):
     # click on the Active environment on the dropdown menu item (which is currently building)
     page.get_by_role("option", name=" - Active", exact=False).click()
     # ensure that the environment is building
-    assert page.get_by_text("Building").is_visible()
+    expect(page.get_by_text("Building")).to_be_visible()
     # wait until the status is `Completed`
     completed = page.get_by_text("Completed", exact=False)
     completed.wait_for(state='attached', timeout=time_to_build_env)
-    assert completed.is_visible()
+    expect(completed).to_be_visible()
 
     return new_env_name
 
@@ -177,7 +180,9 @@ def _existing_environment_interactions(page, env_name, time_to_build_env=3*60*10
     completed.wait_for(state='attached', timeout=time_to_build_env)
 
     # ensure the namespace is expanded
-    if not page.get_by_role("button", name=env_name).is_visible():
+    try: 
+        expect(page.get_by_role("button", name=env_name)).to_be_visible()
+    except Exception as e:
         # click to expand the `username` name space (but not click the +)
         page.get_by_role("button", name="username Create a new environment in the username namespace").click()
 
@@ -217,7 +222,6 @@ def _existing_environment_interactions(page, env_name, time_to_build_env=3*60*10
     completed = page.get_by_text("Completed", exact=False)
     completed.wait_for(state='attached', timeout=time_to_build_env)
 
-
     # Edit -> Cancel editing
     page.get_by_role("button", name=env_name).click()
     page.get_by_role("button", name="Edit").click()
@@ -228,9 +232,7 @@ def _existing_environment_interactions(page, env_name, time_to_build_env=3*60*10
     page.get_by_text("Delete environment").click()
     page.get_by_role("button", name="Delete").click()
 
-    time.sleep(5)  # wait for it to render, flaky otherwise
-    assert not page.get_by_role("button", name=env_name).is_visible()
-
+    expect(page.get_by_role("button", name=env_name)).not_to_be_visible()
 
 
 def test_integration(page: Page, test_config, screenshot):