diff --git a/config/presets/standalone.go b/config/presets/standalone.go
index 043723bbf24..bb883db0aae 100644
--- a/config/presets/standalone.go
+++ b/config/presets/standalone.go
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ func standalone() config.Config {
 	conf.Beacon.VotesLimit = 100
 
 	conf.PoETServers = []string{"http://0.0.0.0:10010"}
-	conf.POET.GracePeriod = 10 * time.Second
-	conf.POET.RequestTimeout = 3 * time.Second
+	conf.POET.GracePeriod = 12 * time.Second
+	conf.POET.RequestTimeout = 4 * time.Second
 	conf.POET.CycleGap = 30 * time.Second
 	conf.POET.PhaseShift = 30 * time.Second
 
diff --git a/node/node_test.go b/node/node_test.go
index d7474c9adcd..ec6725156c8 100644
--- a/node/node_test.go
+++ b/node/node_test.go
@@ -1116,7 +1116,7 @@ func TestAdminEvents(t *testing.T) {
 		grpc.WithBlock(),
 	)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
-	t.Cleanup(func() { conn.Close() })
+	t.Cleanup(func() { assert.NoError(t, conn.Close()) })
 	client := pb.NewAdminServiceClient(conn)
 
 	tctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, 2*time.Minute)
@@ -1144,6 +1144,7 @@ func TestAdminEvents(t *testing.T) {
 			require.NoError(t, err, "stream %d", i)
 			require.IsType(t, ev, msg.Details, "stream %d", i)
 		}
+		require.NoError(t, stream.CloseSend())
 	}
 }