diff --git a/pubsublite/internal/wire/subscriber_test.go b/pubsublite/internal/wire/subscriber_test.go
index 0e9633d4873..cc4f6cbba34 100644
--- a/pubsublite/internal/wire/subscriber_test.go
+++ b/pubsublite/internal/wire/subscriber_test.go
@@ -966,8 +966,8 @@ func TestAssigningSubscriberIgnoreOutstandingAcks(t *testing.T) {
 	// Assignment stream
 	asnStream := test.NewRPCVerifier(t)
 	asnStream.Push(initAssignmentReq(subscription, fakeUUID[:]), assignmentResp([]int64{1}), nil)
-	assignmentBarrier := asnStream.PushWithBarrier(assignmentAckReq(), assignmentResp([]int64{2}), nil)
-	asnStream.Push(assignmentAckReq(), nil, nil)
+	assignmentBarrier1 := asnStream.PushWithBarrier(assignmentAckReq(), assignmentResp([]int64{2}), nil)
+	assignmentBarrier2 := asnStream.PushWithBarrier(assignmentAckReq(), nil, nil)
 	verifiers.AddAssignmentStream(subscription, asnStream)
 
 	// Partition 1
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@ func TestAssigningSubscriberIgnoreOutstandingAcks(t *testing.T) {
 	verifiers.AddSubscribeStream(subscription, 1, subStream1)
 
 	cmtStream1 := test.NewRPCVerifier(t)
-	cmtStream1.Push(initCommitReq(subscriptionPartition{Path: subscription, Partition: 1}), initCommitResp(), nil)
+	commitBarrier := cmtStream1.PushWithBarrier(initCommitReq(subscriptionPartition{Path: subscription, Partition: 1}), initCommitResp(), nil)
 	// Note: no commit expected.
 	verifiers.AddCommitStream(subscription, 1, cmtStream1)
 
@@ -1004,9 +1004,13 @@ func TestAssigningSubscriberIgnoreOutstandingAcks(t *testing.T) {
 	ack1 := receiver.ValidateMsg(msg1)
 
 	// Partition assignments will now be {2}.
-	assignmentBarrier.Release()
+	assignmentBarrier1.Release()
 	receiver.ValidateMsg(msg2).Ack()
 
+	// These barriers ensure that this test is deterministic by ensuring that the
+	// server has received expected requests before proceeding.
+	commitBarrier.Release()
+	assignmentBarrier2.Release()
 	// Partition 1 has already been unassigned, so this ack is discarded.
 	ack1.Ack()