diff --git a/ship/handshake.go b/ship/handshake.go
index 3df62c64..b68522ab 100644
--- a/ship/handshake.go
+++ b/ship/handshake.go
@@ -135,8 +135,7 @@ func (c *ShipConnection) handleState(timeout bool, message []byte) {
 
 	case SmeHelloStateReadyListen:
 		if timeout {
-			c.setState(SmeHelloStateAbort, nil)
-			c.handleState(false, nil)
+			c.handshakeHello_ReadyTimeout()
 			return
 		}
 
diff --git a/ship/helper_test.go b/ship/helper_test.go
index 5980fefd..ba860071 100644
--- a/ship/helper_test.go
+++ b/ship/helper_test.go
@@ -2,11 +2,8 @@ package ship
 
 import (
 	"os"
-	"testing"
 )
 
-func skipCI(t *testing.T) {
-	if os.Getenv("ACTION_ENVIRONMENT") == "CI" {
-		t.Skip("Skipping testing in CI environment")
-	}
+func isRunningOnCI() bool {
+	return os.Getenv("ACTION_ENVIRONMENT") == "CI"
 }
diff --git a/ship/hs_hello.go b/ship/hs_hello.go
index eb9cb57b..be7a30d8 100644
--- a/ship/hs_hello.go
+++ b/ship/hs_hello.go
@@ -76,6 +76,11 @@ func (c *ShipConnection) handshakeHello_ReadyListen(message []byte) {
 	c.handleState(false, nil)
 }
 
+func (c *ShipConnection) handshakeHello_ReadyTimeout() {
+	c.setState(SmeHelloStateAbort, nil)
+	c.handleState(false, nil)
+}
+
 // SME_HELLO_ABORT
 func (c *ShipConnection) handshakeHello_Abort() {
 	c.stopHandshakeTimer()
diff --git a/ship/hs_hello_test.go b/ship/hs_hello_test.go
index 4c5cff75..4b22ec07 100644
--- a/ship/hs_hello_test.go
+++ b/ship/hs_hello_test.go
@@ -70,14 +70,18 @@ func (s *HelloSuite) Test_ReadyListen_Ok() {
 }
 
 func (s *HelloSuite) Test_ReadyListen_Timeout() {
-	skipCI(s.T())
-
 	sut, data := initTest(s.role)
 
 	sut.setState(SmeHelloStateReadyInit, nil) // inits the timer
 	sut.setState(SmeHelloStateReadyListen, nil)
 
-	time.Sleep(tHelloInit + time.Second)
+	if !isRunningOnCI() {
+		// test if the function is triggered correctly via the timer
+		time.Sleep(tHelloInit + time.Second)
+	} else {
+		// speed up the test by running the method directly
+		sut.handshakeHello_ReadyTimeout()
+	}
 
 	assert.Equal(s.T(), SmeHelloStateAbortDone, sut.getState())
 	assert.NotNil(s.T(), data.lastMessage())
@@ -157,14 +161,18 @@ func (s *HelloSuite) Test_PendingListen() {
 }
 
 func (s *HelloSuite) Test_PendingListen_Timeout() {
-	skipCI(s.T())
-
 	sut, data := initTest(s.role)
 
 	sut.setState(SmeHelloStatePendingInit, nil) // inits the timer
 	sut.setState(SmeHelloStatePendingListen, nil)
 
-	time.Sleep(tHelloInit + time.Second)
+	if !isRunningOnCI() {
+		// test if the function is triggered correctly via the timer
+		time.Sleep(tHelloInit + time.Second)
+	} else {
+		// speed up the test by running the method directly
+		sut.handshakeHello_PendingTimeout()
+	}
 
 	assert.Equal(s.T(), SmeHelloStateAbortDone, sut.getState())
 	assert.NotNil(s.T(), data.lastMessage())
diff --git a/ship/websocket.go b/ship/websocket.go
index 4b24dc49..f8838f06 100644
--- a/ship/websocket.go
+++ b/ship/websocket.go
@@ -134,23 +134,27 @@ func (w *websocketConnection) writeShipPump() {
 			logging.Log.Trace("Send:", w.remoteSki, text)
 
 		case <-ticker.C:
-			if w.isConnClosed() {
-				return
-			}
-
-			w.muxConWrite.Lock()
-			_ = w.conn.SetWriteDeadline(time.Now().Add(writeWait))
-			w.muxConWrite.Unlock()
-			if err := w.writeMessage(websocket.PingMessage, nil); err != nil {
-				logging.Log.Debug(w.remoteSki, "error writing to websocket: ", err)
-				w.setConnClosedError(err)
-				w.dataProcessing.ReportConnectionError(err)
-				return
-			}
+			w.handlePing()
 		}
 	}
 }
 
+func (w *websocketConnection) handlePing() {
+	if w.isConnClosed() {
+		return
+	}
+
+	w.muxConWrite.Lock()
+	_ = w.conn.SetWriteDeadline(time.Now().Add(writeWait))
+	w.muxConWrite.Unlock()
+	if err := w.writeMessage(websocket.PingMessage, nil); err != nil {
+		logging.Log.Debug(w.remoteSki, "error writing to websocket: ", err)
+		w.setConnClosedError(err)
+		w.dataProcessing.ReportConnectionError(err)
+		return
+	}
+}
+
 // readShipPump checks for messages from the websocket connection
 func (w *websocketConnection) readShipPump() {
 	_ = w.conn.SetReadDeadline(time.Now().Add(pongWait))
diff --git a/ship/websocket_test.go b/ship/websocket_test.go
index 06431ac0..53fd3f9c 100644
--- a/ship/websocket_test.go
+++ b/ship/websocket_test.go
@@ -93,14 +93,17 @@ func (s *WebsocketSuite) TestConnectionClose() {
 }
 
 func (s *WebsocketSuite) TestPingPeriod() {
-	skipCI(s.T())
-
 	isClosed, err := s.sut.IsDataConnectionClosed()
 	assert.Equal(s.T(), false, isClosed)
 	assert.Nil(s.T(), err)
 
-	// make sure we have enough time to read and write
-	time.Sleep(time.Second * 51)
+	if !isRunningOnCI() {
+		// test if the function is triggered correctly via the timer
+		time.Sleep(time.Second * 51)
+	} else {
+		// speed up the test by running the method directly
+		s.sut.handlePing()
+	}
 
 	isClosed, err = s.sut.IsDataConnectionClosed()
 	assert.Equal(s.T(), false, isClosed)