diff --git a/examples/11-filtering-handlers/test_example_11.py b/examples/11-filtering-handlers/test_example_11.py
index d1b9abe4..e94fae48 100644
--- a/examples/11-filtering-handlers/test_example_11.py
+++ b/examples/11-filtering-handlers/test_example_11.py
@@ -13,12 +13,19 @@
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def crd_exists():
-    subprocess.run(f"kubectl apply -f {crd_yaml}", shell=True, check=True)
+    subprocess.run(f"kubectl apply -f {crd_yaml}",
+                   check=True, timeout=10, capture_output=True, shell=True)
 
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def obj_absent():
-    subprocess.run(f"kubectl delete -f {obj_yaml}", shell=True, check=False)
+    # Operator is not running in fixtures, so we need a force-delete (or this patch).
+    subprocess.run(['kubectl', 'patch', '-f', obj_yaml,
+                    '-p', '{"metadata":{"finalizers":[]}}',
+                    '--type', 'merge'],
+                   check=False, timeout=10, capture_output=True)
+    subprocess.run(f"kubectl delete -f {obj_yaml}",
+                   check=False, timeout=10, capture_output=True, shell=True)
 
 
 def test_handler_filtering(mocker):
diff --git a/tests/e2e/test_examples.py b/tests/e2e/test_examples.py
index 1df6f1cb..7baeef7a 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/test_examples.py
+++ b/tests/e2e/test_examples.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def test_all_examples_are_runnable(mocker, with_crd, with_peering, exampledir):
     # Run an operator and simulate some activity with the operated resource.
     with KopfRunner(['run', '--verbose', str(example_py)]) as runner:
         subprocess.run("kubectl apply -f examples/obj.yaml", shell=True, check=True)
-        time.sleep(e2e_create_time or 1)  # give it some time to react and to sleep and to retry
+        time.sleep(e2e_create_time or 2)  # give it some time to react and to sleep and to retry
         subprocess.run("kubectl delete -f examples/obj.yaml", shell=True, check=True)
         time.sleep(e2e_delete_time or 1)  # give it some time to react