diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/features/subsection.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/features/subsection.py
index 6d9612d9bd..68e65ee7ac 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/features/subsection.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/features/subsection.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def i_see_my_subsection_name_with_quote_on_the_courseware_page(step):
 @step('the subsection does not exist$')
 def the_subsection_does_not_exist(step):
     css = 'span.subsection-name'
-    assert world.browser.is_element_not_present_by_css(css)
+    assert world.is_css_not_present(css)
 
 
 @step('I see the subsection release date is ([0-9/-]+)( [0-9:]+)?')
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/terrain/browser.py b/common/djangoapps/terrain/browser.py
index e8d5b1f2e7..f40108eb3a 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/terrain/browser.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/terrain/browser.py
@@ -119,6 +119,7 @@ def initial_setup(server):
         if not success:
             raise IOError("Could not acquire valid {driver} browser session.".format(driver=browser_driver))
 
+        world.absorb(0, 'IMPLICIT_WAIT')
         world.browser.driver.set_window_size(1280, 1024)
 
     elif world.LETTUCE_SELENIUM_CLIENT == 'saucelabs':
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ def initial_setup(server):
             url="http://{}:{}@ondemand.saucelabs.com:80/wd/hub".format(config['username'], config['access-key']),
             **make_saucelabs_desired_capabilities()
         )
-        world.browser.driver.implicitly_wait(30)
+        world.absorb(30, 'IMPLICIT_WAIT')
 
     elif world.LETTUCE_SELENIUM_CLIENT == 'grid':
         world.browser = Browser(
@@ -136,11 +137,12 @@ def initial_setup(server):
             url=settings.SELENIUM_GRID.get('URL'),
             browser=settings.SELENIUM_GRID.get('BROWSER'),
         )
-        world.browser.driver.implicitly_wait(30)
+        world.absorb(30, 'IMPLICIT_WAIT')
 
     else:
         raise Exception("Unknown selenium client '{}'".format(world.LETTUCE_SELENIUM_CLIENT))
 
+    world.browser.driver.implicitly_wait(world.IMPLICIT_WAIT)
     world.absorb(world.browser.driver.session_id, 'jobid')
 
 
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/terrain/ui_helpers.py b/common/djangoapps/terrain/ui_helpers.py
index e4e0626779..75bc8bb2cb 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/terrain/ui_helpers.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/terrain/ui_helpers.py
@@ -36,8 +36,13 @@ def is_css_present(css_selector, wait_time=10):
 
 @world.absorb
 def is_css_not_present(css_selector, wait_time=5):
-    return world.browser.is_element_not_present_by_css(css_selector, wait_time=wait_time)
-
+    world.browser.driver.implicitly_wait(1)
+    try:
+        return world.browser.is_element_not_present_by_css(css_selector, wait_time=wait_time)
+    except:
+        raise
+    finally:
+        world.browser.driver.implicitly_wait(world.IMPLICIT_WAIT)
 
 @world.absorb
 def css_has_text(css_selector, text, index=0):
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/features/lti.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/features/lti.py
index d9cc40f690..ef385cf2c9 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/features/lti.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/features/lti.py
@@ -23,9 +23,12 @@ def lti_is_not_rendered(_step):
     with world.browser.get_iframe('ltiLaunchFrame') as iframe:
         # iframe does not contain functions from terrain/ui_helpers.py
         world.browser.driver.implicitly_wait(1)
-        result = iframe.is_element_not_present_by_css('.result', wait_time=1)
-        world.browser.driver.implicitly_wait(world.IMPLICIT_WAIT)
-        assert result
+        try:
+            assert iframe.is_element_not_present_by_css('.result', wait_time=1)
+        except:
+            raise
+        finally:
+            world.browser.driver.implicitly_wait(world.IMPLICIT_WAIT)
 
 
 @step('I view the LTI and it is rendered$')