diff --git a/distributed/shuffle/tests/test_shuffle.py b/distributed/shuffle/tests/test_shuffle.py
index 615f83b6b0..f722d0f481 100644
--- a/distributed/shuffle/tests/test_shuffle.py
+++ b/distributed/shuffle/tests/test_shuffle.py
@@ -416,16 +416,23 @@ async def test_closed_worker_during_transfer(c, s, a, b):
     config={"distributed.scheduler.allowed-failures": 0},
 )
 async def test_restarting_during_transfer_raises_killed_worker(c, s, a, b):
+    await c.register_plugin(BlockedShuffleReceiveShuffleWorkerPlugin(), name="shuffle")
     df = dask.datasets.timeseries(
         start="2000-01-01",
-        end="2000-03-01",
+        end="2000-02-01",
         dtypes={"x": float, "y": float},
         freq="10 s",
     )
+    shuffle_extA = a.plugins["shuffle"]
+    shuffle_extB = b.plugins["shuffle"]
     with dask.config.set({"dataframe.shuffle.method": "p2p"}):
         out = df.shuffle("x")
     out = c.compute(out.x.size)
-    await wait_for_tasks_in_state("shuffle-transfer", "memory", 1, b)
+    await asyncio.gather(
+        shuffle_extA.in_shuffle_receive.wait(), shuffle_extB.in_shuffle_receive.wait()
+    )
+    shuffle_extA.block_shuffle_receive.set()
+    shuffle_extB.block_shuffle_receive.set()
     await assert_worker_cleanup(b, close=True)
 
     with pytest.raises(KilledWorker):
diff --git a/distributed/tests/test_cancelled_state.py b/distributed/tests/test_cancelled_state.py
index ddfd4f7738..ece5ef3fdc 100644
--- a/distributed/tests/test_cancelled_state.py
+++ b/distributed/tests/test_cancelled_state.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
     SecedeEvent,
     TaskFinishedMsg,
     UpdateDataEvent,
+    WorkerState,
 )
 
 
@@ -825,8 +826,11 @@ async def release_all_futures():
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("intermediate_state", ["resumed", "cancelled"])
-@pytest.mark.parametrize("close_worker", [False, True])
-@gen_cluster(client=True, config={"distributed.comm.timeouts.connect": "500ms"})
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("close_worker", [True])
+@gen_cluster(
+    client=True,
+    config={"distributed.comm.timeouts.connect": "500ms"},
+)
 async def test_deadlock_cancelled_after_inflight_before_gather_from_worker(
     c, s, a, x, intermediate_state, close_worker
 ):
@@ -839,10 +843,34 @@ async def test_deadlock_cancelled_after_inflight_before_gather_from_worker(
     fut2 = c.submit(sum, [fut1, fut1B], workers=[x.address], key="f2")
     await fut2
 
-    async with BlockedGatherDep(s.address, name="b") as b:
+    class InstrumentedWorkerState(WorkerState):
+        def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
+            self.fut2_in_flight = asyncio.Event()
+            self.fut2_in_intermediate = asyncio.Event()
+
+        def _transition(self, ts, finish, *args, **kwargs):
+            def _verify_state(finish):
+                if ts.key == fut2.key:
+                    if isinstance(finish, tuple) and finish[0] == "flight":
+                        self.fut2_in_flight.set()
+                    if self.fut2_in_flight.is_set() and finish == intermediate_state:
+                        self.fut2_in_intermediate.set()
+
+            # The expected state might be either the requested one or the
+            # actual, final state
+            _verify_state(finish)
+            try:
+                return super()._transition(ts, finish, *args, **kwargs)
+            finally:
+                _verify_state(ts.state)
+
+    async with BlockedGatherDep(
+        s.address, name="b", WorkerStateClass=InstrumentedWorkerState
+    ) as b:
         fut3 = c.submit(inc, fut2, workers=[b.address], key="f3")
 
-        await wait_for_state(fut2.key, "flight", b)
+        await b.state.fut2_in_flight.wait()
 
         s.set_restrictions(worker={fut1B.key: a.address, fut2.key: b.address})
 
@@ -855,7 +883,7 @@ async def test_deadlock_cancelled_after_inflight_before_gather_from_worker(
             stimulus_id="remove-worker",
         )
 
-        await wait_for_state(fut2.key, intermediate_state, b, interval=0)
+        await b.state.fut2_in_intermediate.wait()
 
         b.block_gather_dep.set()
         await fut3
diff --git a/distributed/worker.py b/distributed/worker.py
index 7e3fecb9b2..0cb84dd252 100644
--- a/distributed/worker.py
+++ b/distributed/worker.py
@@ -524,6 +524,7 @@ def __init__(
         ###################################
         # Parameters to Server
         scheduler_sni: str | None = None,
+        WorkerStateClass: type = WorkerState,
         **kwargs,
     ):
         if reconnect is not None:
@@ -770,7 +771,7 @@ def __init__(
             transfer_incoming_bytes_limit = int(
                 self.memory_manager.memory_limit * transfer_incoming_bytes_fraction
             )
-        state = WorkerState(
+        state = WorkerStateClass(
             nthreads=nthreads,
             data=self.memory_manager.data,
             threads=self.threads,