diff --git a/tests/etc/wsgi_mongodb.conf b/tests/etc/wsgi_mongodb.conf
index c2da76d24..ed32ad991 100644
--- a/tests/etc/wsgi_mongodb.conf
+++ b/tests/etc/wsgi_mongodb.conf
@@ -15,3 +15,7 @@ uri = mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017
 database = zaqar_test
 max_reconnect_attempts = 3
 reconnect_sleep = 0.001
+
+# NOTE(kgriffs): Reduce from the default of 1000 to reduce the
+# duration of related tests
+max_attempts = 5
diff --git a/tests/etc/wsgi_redis.conf b/tests/etc/wsgi_redis.conf
index 5673aac6f..2b595b413 100644
--- a/tests/etc/wsgi_redis.conf
+++ b/tests/etc/wsgi_redis.conf
@@ -11,5 +11,11 @@ port = 8888
 
 [drivers:storage:redis]
 uri = redis://127.0.0.1:6379
+
+# NOTE(kgriffs): Reduce from the default of 10 to reduce the
+# duration of related tests
 max_reconnect_attempts = 3
-reconnect_sleep = 1
\ No newline at end of file
+
+# NOTE(kgriffs): Reduce from the default of 1 to reduce the
+# duration of related tests
+reconnect_sleep = 0.1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/unit/common/storage/test_utils.py b/tests/unit/common/storage/test_utils.py
index fa1bab7c2..765de09e4 100644
--- a/tests/unit/common/storage/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit/common/storage/test_utils.py
@@ -47,10 +47,12 @@ class TestUtils(testing.TestBase):
     @testing.requires_mongodb
     def test_can_connect_fails_if_bad_uri_mongodb(self):
         self.config(unreliable=True)
-        self.assertFalse(utils.can_connect('mongodb://localhost:8080',
-                                           conf=self.conf))
-        self.assertFalse(utils.can_connect('mongodb://example.com:27017',
-                                           conf=self.conf))
+
+        uri = 'mongodb://localhost:8080?connectTimeoutMS=100'
+        self.assertFalse(utils.can_connect(uri, conf=self.conf))
+
+        uri = 'mongodb://example.com:27017?connectTimeoutMS=100'
+        self.assertFalse(utils.can_connect(uri, conf=self.conf))
 
     @testing.requires_redis
     def test_can_connect_fails_if_bad_uri_redis(self):
diff --git a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_mongodb.py b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_mongodb.py
index a2ddcc88d..e1ce03f4f 100644
--- a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_mongodb.py
+++ b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_mongodb.py
@@ -382,12 +382,11 @@ class MongodbMessageTests(MongodbSetupMixin, base.MessageControllerTest):
             self.assertEqual(len(created), 1)
 
             # Force infinite retries
-            if testing.RUN_SLOW_TESTS:
-                method.return_value = None
+            method.return_value = None
 
-                with testing.expect(errors.MessageConflict):
-                    self.controller.post(queue_name, messages,
-                                         uuid, project=self.project)
+            with testing.expect(errors.MessageConflict):
+                self.controller.post(queue_name, messages,
+                                     uuid, project=self.project)
 
         created = list(self.controller.post(queue_name,
                                             expected_messages[1:],
diff --git a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_redis.py b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_redis.py
index 1ea834832..ba732ce1b 100644
--- a/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_redis.py
+++ b/tests/unit/queues/storage/test_impl_redis.py
@@ -288,12 +288,12 @@ class RedisClaimsTest(base.ClaimControllerTest):
                           self.controller.get, queue_name,
                           epoch, project=None)
 
-        claim_id, messages = self.controller.create(queue_name, {'ttl': 2,
+        claim_id, messages = self.controller.create(queue_name, {'ttl': 1,
                                                     'grace': 0},
                                                     project=None)
 
         # Lets let it expire
-        time.sleep(2)
+        time.sleep(1)
         self.assertRaises(storage.errors.ClaimDoesNotExist,
                           self.controller.update, queue_name,
                           claim_id, {}, project=None)