diff --git a/core/coreiface/tests/pubsub.go b/core/coreiface/tests/pubsub.go
index bb870de6c..dd05b73cf 100644
--- a/core/coreiface/tests/pubsub.go
+++ b/core/coreiface/tests/pubsub.go
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ func (tp *provider) TestBasicPubSub(t *testing.T) {
 		for {
 			err := apis[1].PubSub().Publish(ctx, "testch", []byte("hello world"))
 			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
+				t.Error(err)
+				cancel()
+				return
 			}
 			select {
 			case <-tick:
diff --git a/core/coreiface/tests/unixfs.go b/core/coreiface/tests/unixfs.go
index e99bf4429..576160500 100644
--- a/core/coreiface/tests/unixfs.go
+++ b/core/coreiface/tests/unixfs.go
@@ -423,11 +423,13 @@ func (tp *provider) TestAdd(t *testing.T) {
 					for evt := range eventOut {
 						event, ok := evt.(*coreiface.AddEvent)
 						if !ok {
-							t.Fatal("unexpected event type")
+							t.Error("unexpected event type")
+							continue
 						}
 
 						if len(expected) < 1 {
-							t.Fatal("got more events than expected")
+							t.Error("got more events than expected")
+							continue
 						}
 
 						if expected[0].Size != event.Size {
@@ -453,7 +455,7 @@ func (tp *provider) TestAdd(t *testing.T) {
 					}
 
 					if len(expected) > 0 {
-						t.Fatalf("%d event(s) didn't arrive", len(expected))
+						t.Errorf("%d event(s) didn't arrive", len(expected))
 					}
 				}()
 			}