diff --git a/t/t3500-cherry.sh b/t/t3500-cherry.sh
index dadbbc2a9f..f038f34b7c 100755
--- a/t/t3500-cherry.sh
+++ b/t/t3500-cherry.sh
@@ -17,17 +17,19 @@ test_expect_success \
     'prepare repository with topic branch, and check cherry finds the 2 patches from there' \
     'echo First > A &&
      git update-index --add A &&
+     test_tick &&
      git commit -m "Add A." &&
 
      git checkout -b my-topic-branch &&
 
      echo Second > B &&
      git update-index --add B &&
+     test_tick &&
      git commit -m "Add B." &&
 
-     sleep 2 &&
      echo AnotherSecond > C &&
      git update-index --add C &&
+     test_tick &&
      git commit -m "Add C." &&
 
      git checkout -f master &&
@@ -35,6 +37,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 
      echo Third >> A &&
      git update-index A &&
+     test_tick &&
      git commit -m "Modify A." &&
 
      expr "$(echo $(git cherry master my-topic-branch) )" : "+ [^ ]* + .*"
diff --git a/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh b/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
index d7e327cc5b..e12fbea1b5 100755
--- a/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t4011-diff-symlink.sh
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success \
     'diff removed symlink' \
-    'rm frotz &&
+    'mv frotz frotz2 &&
     git diff-index -M -p $tree > current &&
     compare_diff_patch current expected'
 
@@ -64,8 +64,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success \
     'diff identical, but newly created symlink' \
-    'sleep 3 &&
-    ln -s xyzzy frotz &&
+    'ln -s xyzzy frotz &&
     git diff-index -M -p $tree > current &&
     compare_diff_patch current expected'
 
diff --git a/t/t7600-merge.sh b/t/t7600-merge.sh
index 57f6d2bae7..cde8390c1b 100755
--- a/t/t7600-merge.sh
+++ b/t/t7600-merge.sh
@@ -554,8 +554,7 @@ test_debug 'gitk --all'
 
 test_expect_success 'refresh the index before merging' '
 	git reset --hard c1 &&
-	sleep 1 &&
-	touch file &&
+	cp file file.n && mv -f file.n file &&
 	git merge c3
 '