diff --git a/src/gateway/server.reload.test.ts b/src/gateway/server.reload.test.ts
index e2296c94df4..87351113911 100644
--- a/src/gateway/server.reload.test.ts
+++ b/src/gateway/server.reload.test.ts
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ describe("gateway hot reload", () => {
       hoisted.providerManager.startChannel.mockClear();
       hoisted.activeEmbeddedRunCount.value = 1;
       embeddedRunMock.activeIds.add("reload-active");
-      const delay = (ms: number) => new Promise<void>((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
+      vi.useFakeTimers();
       const reloadPromise = onHotReload?.(
         {
           changedPaths: ["channels.discord.token"],
@@ -486,16 +486,20 @@ describe("gateway hot reload", () => {
         },
       );
       try {
-        await delay(550);
+        await Promise.resolve();
+        await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(500);
         expect(hoisted.providerManager.stopChannel).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
         expect(hoisted.providerManager.startChannel).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
 
         hoisted.activeEmbeddedRunCount.value = 0;
         embeddedRunMock.activeIds.clear();
+        await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(500);
         await reloadPromise;
       } finally {
         hoisted.activeEmbeddedRunCount.value = 0;
         embeddedRunMock.activeIds.clear();
+        await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(500).catch(() => {});
+        vi.useRealTimers();
         await reloadPromise?.catch(() => {});
       }