diff --git a/e2e/chat.spec.ts b/e2e/chat.spec.ts
index f362835e4..89b7c6a0e 100644
--- a/e2e/chat.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/chat.spec.ts
@@ -361,7 +361,21 @@ test.describe("Chat", () => {
 				new ChatSidebar(other.page).chat().message(/confirmed score/),
 			).toBeVisible();
 
-			// concluding the match ended both groups and the match room with them
+			// concluding the match ended both groups and the match room with them,
+			// but its unread system message keeps it listed until it is read
+			await expect(
+				alphaChat.roomRowUnreadBadge(`Match #${match.id}`),
+			).toHaveText("1");
+			await expect(alphaChat.locators.inactiveToggle).toHaveText(
+				/Inactive \(1\)/,
+			);
+
+			await alphaChat.openRoom(`Match #${match.id}`);
+
+			await expect(alphaChat.chat().message(/confirmed score/)).toBeVisible();
+
+			await alphaChat.backToRoomList();
+
 			await expect(alphaChat.locators.roomRows).toHaveCount(0);
 			await expect(alphaChat.locators.inactiveToggle).toHaveText(
 				/Inactive \(2\)/,
diff --git a/e2e/sendouq.spec.ts b/e2e/sendouq.spec.ts
index f85333cf0..3d6cde298 100644
--- a/e2e/sendouq.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/sendouq.spec.ts
@@ -371,6 +371,9 @@ test.describe("SendouQ", () => {
 		page,
 		factories,
 	}) => {
+		// every one of the eight members logs in and confirms on their own
+		test.slow();
+
 		const challengers = await factories.UserFactory.createMany(FULL_GROUP_SIZE);
 		const accepters = await factories.UserFactory.createMany(FULL_GROUP_SIZE);
 		const challengerGroup = await factories.SQGroupFactory.create({