diff --git a/test/integration/targets/connection_windows_ssh/runme.sh b/test/integration/targets/connection_windows_ssh/runme.sh
index 766193f8eb5..ffc285deeff 100755
--- a/test/integration/targets/connection_windows_ssh/runme.sh
+++ b/test/integration/targets/connection_windows_ssh/runme.sh
@@ -38,10 +38,13 @@ ansible -i ../../inventory.winrm localhost \
     -e "test_shell_type=powershell" \
     "$@"
 
-# ensure the default shell is set to PowerShell
+# ensure the default shell is set to PowerShell - use an explicit shell
+# var as a previous task set the default shell to cmd and we don't want to
+# inherit the ansible-test defaults in inventory.winrm.
 ansible -i ../../inventory.winrm windows \
     -m win_regedit \
     -a "path=HKLM:\\\\SOFTWARE\\\\OpenSSH name=DefaultShell data=C:\\\\Windows\\\\System32\\\\WindowsPowerShell\\\\v1.0\\\\powershell.exe" \
+    -e "ansible_shell_type=cmd" \
     "$@"
 
 ansible -i "${OUTPUT_DIR}/test_connection.inventory" windows \
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/incidental_win_reboot/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/incidental_win_reboot/tasks/main.yml
index 59b9c972bf3..b23106f6f09 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/incidental_win_reboot/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/incidental_win_reboot/tasks/main.yml
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@
   register: removed_shutdown_privilege
 
 - block:
+  - name: reset connection to ensure privilege change takes effect
+    meta: reset_connection
+
   - name: try and reboot without required privilege
     win_reboot:
     register: fail_privilege
@@ -58,6 +61,9 @@
       users: '{{ removed_shutdown_privilege.removed }}'
       action: add
 
+  - name: reset connection after adding privileges back in
+    meta: reset_connection
+
 - name: Use invalid parameter
   reboot:
     foo: bar