diff --git a/test/e2e/bootcnode_test.go b/test/e2e/bootcnode_test.go
index b2f324d..c83b982 100644
--- a/test/e2e/bootcnode_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/bootcnode_test.go
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ func TestControllerMembership(t *testing.T) {
 		var pods corev1.PodList
 		err := env.Client.List(ctx, &pods,
 			client.InNamespace(testutil.OperatorNamespaceName),
+			client.MatchingFields{"spec.nodeName": nodeName},
 			client.MatchingLabels{
 				"app.kubernetes.io/name":      "bootc-operator",
 				"app.kubernetes.io/component": "daemon",
@@ -423,7 +424,9 @@ func TestMidRolloutImageChange(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Logf("Switched pool to second update image %s", updateRef2)
 
 	// Phase 6: Wait for both nodes to be Idle with the second update image.
-	for _, nodeName := range []string{nodeA, nodeB} {
+	// Reboots are serialized: wait for the node already rebooting first so
+	// the other node's timeout does not include waiting for its reboot slot.
+	for _, nodeName := range []string{rebootingNode, otherNode} {
 		testutil.WaitForNodeIdle(t, g, ctx, env.Client, nodeName, 8*time.Minute,
 			HaveField("Booted", HaveField("ImageDigest", Equal(env.NodeImageUpdate2Digest()))),
 		)