diff --git a/testscript/script_test.go b/testscript/script_test.go
index 43fdde900..564372808 100644
--- a/testscript/script_test.go
+++ b/testscript/script_test.go
@@ -79,20 +79,20 @@ func TestScript(t *testing.T) {
 		UpdateScripts:       *update,
 		RequireExplicitExec: true,
 		Cmds: map[string]func(ts *testscript.TestScript, neg bool, args []string){
-			"soft":          cmdSoft("admin", admin1.Signer()),
-			"usoft":         cmdSoft("user1", user1.Signer()),
-			"git":           cmdGit(admin1Key),
-			"ugit":          cmdGit(user1Key),
-			"curl":          cmdCurl,
-			"mkfile":        cmdMkfile,
-			"envfile":       cmdEnvfile,
-			"readfile":      cmdReadfile,
-			"dos2unix":      cmdDos2Unix,
-			"new-webhook":   cmdNewWebhook,
-			"waitforserver": cmdWaitforserver,
-			"stopserver":    cmdStopserver,
-			"ui":            cmdUI(admin1.Signer()),
-			"uui":           cmdUI(user1.Signer()),
+			"soft":                cmdSoft("admin", admin1.Signer()),
+			"usoft":               cmdSoft("user1", user1.Signer()),
+			"git":                 cmdGit(admin1Key),
+			"ugit":                cmdGit(user1Key),
+			"curl":                cmdCurl,
+			"mkfile":              cmdMkfile,
+			"envfile":             cmdEnvfile,
+			"readfile":            cmdReadfile,
+			"dos2unix":            cmdDos2Unix,
+			"new-webhook":         cmdNewWebhook,
+			"ensureserverrunning": cmdEnsureServerRunning,
+			"stopserver":          cmdStopserver,
+			"ui":                  cmdUI(admin1.Signer()),
+			"uui":                 cmdUI(user1.Signer()),
 		},
 		Setup: func(e *testscript.Env) error {
 			// Add binPath to PATH
@@ -470,9 +470,18 @@ func cmdCurl(ts *testscript.TestScript, neg bool, args []string) {
 	check(ts, cmd.Execute(), neg)
 }
 
-func cmdWaitforserver(ts *testscript.TestScript, neg bool, args []string) {
-	// wait until the server is up
-	addr := net.JoinHostPort("localhost", ts.Getenv("SSH_PORT"))
+func cmdEnsureServerRunning(ts *testscript.TestScript, neg bool, args []string) {
+	if len(args) < 1 {
+		ts.Fatalf("Must supply a TCP port of one of the services to connect to. " +
+			"These are set as env vars as they are randomized. " +
+			"Example usage: \"cmdensureserverrunning SSH_PORT\"\n" +
+			"Valid values for the env var: SSH_PORT|HTTP_PORT|GIT_PORT|STATS_PORT")
+	}
+
+	port := ts.Getenv(args[0])
+
+	// verify that the server is up
+	addr := net.JoinHostPort("localhost", port)
 	for {
 		conn, _ := net.DialTimeout(
 			"tcp",
@@ -480,6 +489,7 @@ func cmdWaitforserver(ts *testscript.TestScript, neg bool, args []string) {
 			time.Second,
 		)
 		if conn != nil {
+			ts.Logf("Server is running on port: %s", port)
 			conn.Close()
 			break
 		}
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/anon-access.txtar b/testscript/testdata/anon-access.txtar
index 54958fa11..c43dc23cd 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/anon-access.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/anon-access.txtar
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # set settings
 soft settings allow-keyless true
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/help.txtar b/testscript/testdata/help.txtar
index d6756ca02..299e29500 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/help.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/help.txtar
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve --sync-hooks &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 soft --help
 cmpenv stdout help.txt
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/http.txtar b/testscript/testdata/http.txtar
index 98f6902a5..796c6421a 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/http.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/http.txtar
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create user
 soft user create user1 --key "$USER1_AUTHORIZED_KEY"
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/jwt.txtar b/testscript/testdata/jwt.txtar
index 7a257044e..667ec7985 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/jwt.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/jwt.txtar
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create user
 soft user create user1 --key "$USER1_AUTHORIZED_KEY"
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/mirror.txtar b/testscript/testdata/mirror.txtar
index d3cc1915d..76feb782e 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/mirror.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/mirror.txtar
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # import a repo
 soft repo import --mirror charmbracelet/catwalk https://github.com/charmbracelet/catwalk.git
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-blob.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-blob.txtar
index e2712acfe..685c15d80 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-blob.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-blob.txtar
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create a repo
 soft repo create repo1
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-collab.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-collab.txtar
index d2960693a..ead5fdce4 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-collab.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-collab.txtar
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # setup
 soft repo import test https://github.com/charmbracelet/catwalk.git
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-commit.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-commit.txtar
index 70ca3da12..a3b61e514 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-commit.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-commit.txtar
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create a repo
 soft repo import basic1 https://github.com/git-fixtures/basic
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-create.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-create.txtar
index 7b7f12d77..2b8cf4522 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-create.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-create.txtar
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create a repo
 soft repo create repo1 -d 'description' -H -p -n 'repo11'
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-delete.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-delete.txtar
index ca513e782..b9197e17d 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-delete.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-delete.txtar
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 soft repo create repo1
 soft repo create repo-to-delete
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-import.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-import.txtar
index 84d4334b4..e9bfa31e4 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-import.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-import.txtar
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # import private
 soft repo import --private repo1 https://github.com/charmbracelet/catwalk.git
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-perms.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-perms.txtar
index 1cc371e93..a3e4515c0 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-perms.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-perms.txtar
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create a repo & user1 with admin
 soft repo create repo1 -p
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-push.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-push.txtar
index cadb735b9..d9f947537 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-push.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-push.txtar
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create a repo
 soft repo create repo-empty -d 'description' -H -p -n 'repo-empty'
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-tree.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-tree.txtar
index b3e6320de..75a9978a2 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-tree.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-tree.txtar
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create a repo
 soft repo create repo1
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/repo-webhooks.txtar b/testscript/testdata/repo-webhooks.txtar
index fe393a5b6..6b370d31e 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/repo-webhooks.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/repo-webhooks.txtar
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create a repo
 soft repo create repo-123
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/set-username.txtar b/testscript/testdata/set-username.txtar
index 30f1a8e00..745134c73 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/set-username.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/set-username.txtar
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # get original username
 soft info
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/settings.txtar b/testscript/testdata/settings.txtar
index 1ceaec57d..fc6bdf463 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/settings.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/settings.txtar
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # check default allow-keyless
 soft settings allow-keyless true
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/ssh-lfs.txtar b/testscript/testdata/ssh-lfs.txtar
index fbba49d3e..a647dff91 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/ssh-lfs.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/ssh-lfs.txtar
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ skip 'breaks with git-lfs 3.5.1'
 env SOFT_SERVE_LFS_SSH_ENABLED=true
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create a user
 soft user create foo --key "$USER1_AUTHORIZED_KEY"
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/ssh.txtar b/testscript/testdata/ssh.txtar
index 3e652aeb2..e968fa63a 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/ssh.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/ssh.txtar
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create a user
 soft user create foo --key "$USER1_AUTHORIZED_KEY"
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/token.txtar b/testscript/testdata/token.txtar
index 821cea84d..7a88701c1 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/token.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/token.txtar
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # create user
 soft user create user1 --key "$USER1_AUTHORIZED_KEY"
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/ui-home.txtar b/testscript/testdata/ui-home.txtar
index 0a5c04ab7..126b38e7b 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/ui-home.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/ui-home.txtar
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # test repositories tab
 ui '"    q"'
diff --git a/testscript/testdata/user_management.txtar b/testscript/testdata/user_management.txtar
index f65397090..233e8fd5d 100644
--- a/testscript/testdata/user_management.txtar
+++ b/testscript/testdata/user_management.txtar
@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 
 # start soft serve
 exec soft serve &
-# wait for server to start
-waitforserver
+# wait for SSH server to start
+ensureserverrunning SSH_PORT
 
 # add key to admin
 soft user add-pubkey admin "$ADMIN2_AUTHORIZED_KEY"