diff --git a/tests/helics/shared_library/appTests.cpp b/tests/helics/shared_library/appTests.cpp
index 0312dd3e34..8c647349e9 100644
--- a/tests/helics/shared_library/appTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/helics/shared_library/appTests.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ TEST(app_tests, simple_player)
 
     helicsAppLoadFile(play1, (std::string(APP_TEST_DIR) + "example1.player").c_str(), &err);
     EXPECT_EQ(err.error_code, 0);
+    helicsFederateInfoSetCoreInitString(fedInfo,"",&err);
+
     auto vFed = helicsCreateValueFederate("block1", fedInfo, &err);
     std::cout << "out2\n";
     auto sub1 = helicsFederateRegisterSubscription(vFed, "pub1", nullptr, &err);
@@ -52,6 +54,8 @@ TEST(app_tests, simple_player)
     auto err2 = helicsErrorInitialize();
 
     auto thread1 = std::thread([&play1, &err2]() { helicsAppRun(play1, &err2); });
+    std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
+    std::cout<<"out2b\n";
     helicsFederateEnterExecutingMode(vFed, &err);
     std::cout << "out3\n";
     auto val = helicsInputGetDouble(sub1, &err);