diff --git a/spec/integ/crypto/verification.spec.ts b/spec/integ/crypto/verification.spec.ts
index 5c94d871b1d..1e71fdcd17f 100644
--- a/spec/integ/crypto/verification.spec.ts
+++ b/spec/integ/crypto/verification.spec.ts
@@ -206,15 +206,21 @@ function runTests(backend: string, initCrypto: InitCrypto, methods: string[] | u
                     short_authentication_string: ["decimal", "emoji"],
                 },
             });
-            await waitForVerificationRequestChanged(request);
-            expect(request.phase).toEqual(VerificationPhase.Started);
-            expect(request.otherPartySupportsMethod("m.sas.v1")).toBe(true);
-            expect(request.chosenMethod).toEqual("m.sas.v1");
-
-            // there should now be a verifier
-            const verifier: Verifier = request.verifier!;
-            expect(verifier).toBeDefined();
-            expect(verifier.getShowSasCallbacks()).toBeNull();
+            // as soon as the Changed event arrives, `verifier` should be defined
+            const verifier = await new Promise<Verifier>((resolve) => {
+                function onChange() {
+                    expect(request.phase).toEqual(VerificationPhase.Started);
+                    expect(request.otherPartySupportsMethod("m.sas.v1")).toBe(true);
+                    expect(request.chosenMethod).toEqual("m.sas.v1");
+
+                    const verifier: Verifier = request.verifier!;
+                    expect(verifier).toBeDefined();
+                    expect(verifier.getShowSasCallbacks()).toBeNull();
+
+                    resolve(verifier);
+                }
+                request.once(VerificationRequestEvent.Change, onChange);
+            });
 
             // start off the verification process: alice will send an `accept`
             const sendToDevicePromise = expectSendToDeviceMessage("m.key.verification.accept");
diff --git a/src/rust-crypto/verification.ts b/src/rust-crypto/verification.ts
index b9dfe6e4aa4..f4c8f3697fd 100644
--- a/src/rust-crypto/verification.ts
+++ b/src/rust-crypto/verification.ts
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@ export class RustVerificationRequest
         super();
 
         const onChange = async (): Promise<void> => {
-            this.emit(VerificationRequestEvent.Change);
-
             // if we now have a `Verification` where we lacked one before, wrap it.
             // TODO: QR support
             if (this._verifier === undefined) {
@@ -57,6 +55,8 @@ export class RustVerificationRequest
                     this._verifier = new RustSASVerifier(verification, this, outgoingRequestProcessor);
                 }
             }
+
+            this.emit(VerificationRequestEvent.Change);
         };
         inner.registerChangesCallback(onChange);
     }