diff --git a/build/yaml/sample-py-samplebot-linux-test.yml b/build/yaml/sample-py-samplebot-linux-test.yml
index 56aadecbf..130ee6311 100644
--- a/build/yaml/sample-py-samplebot-linux-test.yml
+++ b/build/yaml/sample-py-samplebot-linux-test.yml
@@ -409,11 +409,6 @@ jobs:
     inputs:
       projects: $(System.DefaultWorkingDirectory)/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.$(SampleBotName).FunctionalTests/Samples.$(SampleBotName).FunctionalTests.csproj
 
-  - powershell: |
-      Start-Sleep -Seconds 700
-    displayName: 'Sleep for 11 min 40 sec'
-    enabled: true
-
   - task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
     displayName: dotnet test
     inputs:
diff --git a/build/yaml/sample-py-zipdeploy-echobot-linux-test.yml b/build/yaml/sample-py-zipdeploy-echobot-linux-test.yml
index 83f8c4fed..5f9d758c1 100644
--- a/build/yaml/sample-py-zipdeploy-echobot-linux-test.yml
+++ b/build/yaml/sample-py-zipdeploy-echobot-linux-test.yml
@@ -419,11 +419,6 @@ jobs:
     inputs:
       projects: $(System.DefaultWorkingDirectory)/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.$(SampleBotName).FunctionalTests/Samples.$(SampleBotName).FunctionalTests.csproj
 
-  - powershell: |
-      Start-Sleep -Seconds 800
-    displayName: 'Sleep for 800 seconds'
-    enabled: true
-
   - task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
     displayName: dotnet test
     inputs:
diff --git a/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.CoreBot.FunctionalTests/DirectLineClientTests.cs b/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.CoreBot.FunctionalTests/DirectLineClientTests.cs
index 42ae760ac..57f96518b 100644
--- a/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.CoreBot.FunctionalTests/DirectLineClientTests.cs
+++ b/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.CoreBot.FunctionalTests/DirectLineClientTests.cs
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ namespace Samples.CoreBot.FunctionalTests
             GetEnvironmentVars();
 
             string input = "";
+
+            // "Prime" the bot. Running StartBotConversationAsync() twice succeeds the second time.
+            await StartBotConversationAsync(input);
+
             var botAnswer = await StartBotConversationAsync(input);
             Assert.IsTrue(!String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(botAnswer) && botAnswer.Contains("travel", StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase),
                 $"Expected: A message containing 'travel'. Actual:<{botAnswer}>.");
diff --git a/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.EchoBot.FunctionalTests/DirectLineClientTests.cs b/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.EchoBot.FunctionalTests/DirectLineClientTests.cs
index 385283d31..2b29ab7ef 100644
--- a/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.EchoBot.FunctionalTests/DirectLineClientTests.cs
+++ b/samples/csharp_dotnetcore/tests/Samples.EchoBot.FunctionalTests/DirectLineClientTests.cs
@@ -27,6 +27,9 @@ namespace Samples.EchoBot.FunctionalTests
             echoGuid = Guid.NewGuid().ToString();
             input += echoGuid;
 
+            // "Prime" the bot. Running StartBotConversationAsync() twice succeeds the second time.
+            await StartBotConversationAsync();
+
             var botAnswer = await StartBotConversationAsync();
 
             Assert.AreEqual($"Echo: {input}", botAnswer);