diff --git a/p2p/simulations/http_test.go b/p2p/simulations/http_test.go
index cd03e600f35c..35536f69b2de 100644
--- a/p2p/simulations/http_test.go
+++ b/p2p/simulations/http_test.go
@@ -234,10 +234,11 @@ func (t *testService) Snapshot() ([]byte, error) {
 // * get and increment a counter
 // * subscribe to counter increment events
 type TestAPI struct {
-	state     *atomic.Value
-	peerCount *int64
-	counter   int64
-	feed      event.Feed
+	state               *atomic.Value
+	peerCount           *int64
+	counter             int64
+	activeSubscriptions int64
+	feed                event.Feed
 }
 
 func (t *TestAPI) PeerCount() int64 {
@@ -273,14 +274,17 @@ func (t *TestAPI) Events(ctx context.Context) (*rpc.Subscription, error) {
 		events := make(chan int64)
 		sub := t.feed.Subscribe(events)
 		defer sub.Unsubscribe()
+		atomic.AddInt64(&t.activeSubscriptions, 1)
 
 		for {
 			select {
 			case event := <-events:
 				notifier.Notify(rpcSub.ID, event)
 			case <-sub.Err():
+				atomic.AddInt64(&t.activeSubscriptions, -1)
 				return
 			case <-rpcSub.Err():
+				atomic.AddInt64(&t.activeSubscriptions, -1)
 				return
 			}
 		}
@@ -289,6 +293,10 @@ func (t *TestAPI) Events(ctx context.Context) (*rpc.Subscription, error) {
 	return rpcSub, nil
 }
 
+func (t *TestAPI) GetNumActiveSubscriptions() int64 {
+	return atomic.LoadInt64(&t.activeSubscriptions)
+}
+
 var testServices = adapters.LifecycleConstructors{
 	"test": newTestService,
 }
@@ -557,6 +565,14 @@ func TestHTTPNodeRPC(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("error getting node RPC client: %s", err)
 	}
 
+	// get the number of subscriptions before subscribing to know what number to
+	// expect once it becomes active
+	var expectedActiveSubscriptions int64
+	if err := rpcClient1.CallContext(ctx, &expectedActiveSubscriptions, "test_getNumActiveSubscriptions"); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("error calling RPC method: %s", err)
+	}
+	expectedActiveSubscriptions += 1
+
 	// subscribe to events using client 1
 	events := make(chan int64, 1)
 	sub, err := rpcClient1.Subscribe(ctx, "test", events, "events")
@@ -565,6 +581,22 @@ func TestHTTPNodeRPC(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	defer sub.Unsubscribe()
 
+	// make sure the subscription becomes active
+	var numActiveSubscriptions int64
+	for i := 0; i < 3; i++ {
+		err := rpcClient1.CallContext(ctx, &numActiveSubscriptions, "test_getNumActiveSubscriptions")
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("error calling RPC method: %s", err)
+		}
+		if numActiveSubscriptions > 0 {
+			break
+		}
+		time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
+	}
+	if numActiveSubscriptions != expectedActiveSubscriptions {
+		t.Fatalf("subscription never became active")
+	}
+
 	// call some RPC methods using client 2
 	if err := rpcClient2.CallContext(ctx, nil, "test_add", 10); err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("error calling RPC method: %s", err)