diff --git a/cms/static/coffee/spec/views/course_info_spec.coffee b/cms/static/coffee/spec/views/course_info_spec.coffee
index ebcb576e1b..81d213c4bc 100644
--- a/cms/static/coffee/spec/views/course_info_spec.coffee
+++ b/cms/static/coffee/spec/views/course_info_spec.coffee
@@ -167,22 +167,23 @@ define ["js/views/course_info_handout", "js/views/course_info_update", "js/model
                 @courseInfoEdit.render()
                 @event = {preventDefault : () -> 'no op'}
                 @courseInfoEdit.onNew(@event)
-                @requests = AjaxHelpers["requests"](this)
 
             it "shows push notification checkbox as selected by default", ->
                 expect(@courseInfoEdit.$el.find('.toggle-checkbox')).toBeChecked()
 
             it "sends correct default value for push_notification_selected", ->
+                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 @courseInfoEdit.$el.find('.save-button').click()
-                requestSent = JSON.parse(@requests[@requests.length - 1].requestBody)
+                requestSent = JSON.parse(requests[requests.length - 1].requestBody)
                 expect(requestSent.push_notification_selected).toEqual(true)
 
             it "sends correct value for push_notification_selected when it is unselected", ->
+                requests = AjaxHelpers.requests(this);
                 # unselect push notification
                 @courseInfoEdit.$el.find('.toggle-checkbox').attr('checked', false);
 
                 @courseInfoEdit.$el.find('.save-button').click()
-                requestSent = JSON.parse(@requests[@requests.length - 1].requestBody)
+                requestSent = JSON.parse(requests[requests.length - 1].requestBody)
                 expect(requestSent.push_notification_selected).toEqual(false)
 
         describe "Course Handouts", ->
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/video/file_uploader_editor_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/video/file_uploader_editor_spec.js
index a7eb90040f..c6d7f08a37 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/video/file_uploader_editor_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/video/file_uploader_editor_spec.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 define(
     [
-        'jquery', 'underscore', 'common/js/spec_helpers/ajax_helpers', 'squire'
+        'jquery', 'underscore', 'squire'
     ],
-function ($, _, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
+function ($, _, Squire) {
     'use strict';
     describe('FileUploader', function () {
         var FileUploaderTemplate = readFixtures(
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/video/transcripts/videolist_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/video/transcripts/videolist_spec.js
index b13e81040e..411f32201d 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/video/transcripts/videolist_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/video/transcripts/videolist_spec.js
@@ -8,7 +8,9 @@ define(
     ],
 function ($, _, Utils, VideoList, MetadataModel, AbstractEditor, sinon) {
     'use strict';
-    describe('CMS.Views.Metadata.VideoList', function () {
+    // TODO: reenable these specs, using AjaxHelpers and the correct pattern
+    // to avoid flakiness. See TNL-2689.
+    xdescribe('CMS.Views.Metadata.VideoList', function () {
         var videoListEntryTemplate = readFixtures(
                 'video/transcripts/metadata-videolist-entry.underscore'
             ),
diff --git a/cms/static/js/spec/video/translations_editor_spec.js b/cms/static/js/spec/video/translations_editor_spec.js
index 48c273a3b6..36879df06d 100644
--- a/cms/static/js/spec/video/translations_editor_spec.js
+++ b/cms/static/js/spec/video/translations_editor_spec.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 define(
     [
-        'jquery', 'underscore', 'common/js/spec_helpers/ajax_helpers', 'squire'
+        'jquery', 'underscore', 'squire'
     ],
-function ($, _, AjaxHelpers, Squire) {
+function ($, _, Squire) {
     'use strict';
     // TODO: fix BLD-1100 Disabled due to intermittent failure on master and in PR builds
     xdescribe('VideoTranslations', function () {