diff --git a/derp/derp_test.go b/derp/derp_test.go
index f981dc797..de67e58c6 100644
--- a/derp/derp_test.go
+++ b/derp/derp_test.go
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	crand "crypto/rand"
 	"errors"
-	"expvar"
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"net"
@@ -215,10 +214,27 @@ func TestSendFreeze(t *testing.T) {
 	cathyKey := newPrivateKey(t)
 	cathyClient, cathyConn := newClient("cathy", cathyKey)
 
-	var aliceCount, bobCount, cathyCount expvar.Int
+	var (
+		aliceCh = make(chan struct{}, 32)
+		bobCh   = make(chan struct{}, 32)
+		cathyCh = make(chan struct{}, 32)
+	)
+	chs := func(name string) chan struct{} {
+		switch name {
+		case "alice":
+			return aliceCh
+		case "bob":
+			return bobCh
+		case "cathy":
+			return cathyCh
+		default:
+			panic("unknown ch: " + name)
+		}
+	}
 
 	errCh := make(chan error, 4)
-	recvAndCount := func(count *expvar.Int, name string, client *Client) {
+	recv := func(name string, client *Client) {
+		ch := chs(name)
 		for {
 			b := make([]byte, 1<<9)
 			m, err := client.Recv(b)
@@ -235,13 +251,16 @@ func TestSendFreeze(t *testing.T) {
 					errCh <- fmt.Errorf("%s: zero Source address in ReceivedPacket", name)
 					return
 				}
-				count.Add(1)
+				select {
+				case ch <- struct{}{}:
+				default:
+				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	go recvAndCount(&aliceCount, "alice", aliceClient)
-	go recvAndCount(&bobCount, "bob", bobClient)
-	go recvAndCount(&cathyCount, "cathy", cathyClient)
+	go recv("alice", aliceClient)
+	go recv("bob", bobClient)
+	go recv("cathy", cathyClient)
 
 	var cancel func()
 	go func() {
@@ -270,38 +289,52 @@ func TestSendFreeze(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}()
 
-	var countSnapshot [3]int64
-	loadCounts := func() (adiff, bdiff, cdiff int64) {
+	drainAny := func(ch chan struct{}) {
+		// We are draining potentially infinite sources,
+		// so place some reasonable upper limit.
+		//
+		// The important thing here is to make sure that
+		// if any tokens remain in the channel, they
+		// must have been generated after drainAny was
+		// called.
+		for i := 0; i < cap(ch); i++ {
+			select {
+			case <-ch:
+			default:
+				return
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	drain := func(t *testing.T, name string) bool {
 		t.Helper()
+		timer := time.NewTimer(1 * time.Second)
+		defer timer.Stop()
 
-		atotal := aliceCount.Value()
-		btotal := bobCount.Value()
-		ctotal := cathyCount.Value()
-
-		adiff = atotal - countSnapshot[0]
-		bdiff = btotal - countSnapshot[1]
-		cdiff = ctotal - countSnapshot[2]
-
-		countSnapshot[0] = atotal
-		countSnapshot[1] = btotal
-		countSnapshot[2] = ctotal
-
-		t.Logf("count diffs: alice=%d, bob=%d, cathy=%d", adiff, bdiff, cdiff)
-		return adiff, bdiff, cdiff
+		// Ensure ch has at least one element.
+		ch := chs(name)
+		select {
+		case <-ch:
+		case <-timer.C:
+			t.Errorf("no packet received by %s", name)
+			return false
+		}
+		// Drain remaining.
+		drainAny(ch)
+		return true
+	}
+	isEmpty := func(t *testing.T, name string) {
+		t.Helper()
+		select {
+		case <-chs(name):
+			t.Errorf("packet received by %s, want none", name)
+		default:
+		}
 	}
 
 	t.Run("initial send", func(t *testing.T) {
-		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
-		a, b, c := loadCounts()
-		if a != 0 {
-			t.Errorf("alice diff=%d, want 0", a)
-		}
-		if b == 0 {
-			t.Errorf("no bob diff, want positive value")
-		}
-		if c == 0 {
-			t.Errorf("no cathy diff, want positive value")
-		}
+		drain(t, "bob")
+		drain(t, "cathy")
+		isEmpty(t, "alice")
 	})
 
 	t.Run("block cathy", func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -310,17 +343,12 @@ func TestSendFreeze(t *testing.T) {
 		cathyConn.SetReadBlock(true)
 		time.Sleep(2 * s.WriteTimeout)
 
-		a, b, _ := loadCounts()
-		if a != 0 {
-			t.Errorf("alice diff=%d, want 0", a)
-		}
-		if b == 0 {
-			t.Errorf("no bob diff, want positive value")
-		}
+		drain(t, "bob")
+		drainAny(chs("cathy"))
+		isEmpty(t, "alice")
 
 		// Now wait a little longer, and ensure packets still flow to bob
-		time.Sleep(10 * time.Millisecond)
-		if _, b, _ := loadCounts(); b == 0 {
+		if !drain(t, "bob") {
 			t.Errorf("connection alice->bob frozen by alice->cathy")
 		}
 	})