diff --git a/test/functional/abc-parkedchain.py b/test/functional/abc-parkedchain.py
--- a/test/functional/abc-parkedchain.py
+++ b/test/functional/abc-parkedchain.py
@@ -24,7 +24,13 @@
                 assert_equal(tip["status"], other_tip_status)
 
     def run_test(self):
+        def wait_for_tip(node, tip):
+            def check_tip():
+                return node.getbestblockhash() == tip
+            wait_until(check_tip)
+
         node = self.nodes[0]
+        parking_node = self.nodes[1]
 
         self.log.info("Test chain parking...")
         node.generate(10)
@@ -34,6 +40,11 @@
         node.generate(10)
         parked_tip = node.getbestblockhash()
 
+        # get parking_node caught up.
+        # (probably not needed, but just in case parking can have race
+        # condition like invalidateblock below)
+        wait_for_tip(parking_node, parked_tip)
+
         # Let's park the chain.
         assert(parked_tip != tip)
         assert(block_to_park != tip)
@@ -58,6 +69,9 @@
         node.generate(1)
         good_tip = node.getbestblockhash()
 
+        # avoid race condition from parking_node requesting block when invalid
+        wait_for_tip(parking_node, good_tip)
+
         node.invalidateblock(bad_tip)
         self.only_valid_tip(tip, other_tip_status="invalid")
         node.parkblock(bad_tip)
@@ -75,6 +89,9 @@
         node.generate(1)
         good_tip = node.getbestblockhash()
 
+        # avoid race condition from parking_node requesting block when invalid
+        wait_for_tip(parking_node, good_tip)
+
         node.parkblock(bad_tip)
         self.only_valid_tip(tip, other_tip_status="parked")
         node.invalidateblock(bad_tip)
@@ -95,6 +112,9 @@
         node.generate(1)
         good_tip = node.getbestblockhash()
 
+        # avoid race condition from parking_node requesting block when invalid
+        wait_for_tip(parking_node, good_tip)
+
         node.invalidateblock(bad_tip)
         self.only_valid_tip(tip, other_tip_status="invalid")
         node.parkblock(bad_tip)
@@ -112,6 +132,9 @@
         node.generate(1)
         good_tip = node.getbestblockhash()
 
+        # avoid race condition from parking_node requesting block when invalid
+        wait_for_tip(parking_node, good_tip)
+
         node.parkblock(bad_tip)
         self.only_valid_tip(tip, other_tip_status="parked")
         node.invalidateblock(bad_tip)
@@ -124,13 +147,7 @@
         node.reconsiderblock(bad_tip)
         self.only_valid_tip(good_tip)
 
-        # First, make sure both nodes are in sync.
-        def wait_for_tip(node, tip):
-            def check_tip():
-                return node.getbestblockhash() == tip
-            wait_until(check_tip)
-
-        parking_node = self.nodes[1]
+        # To get ready for next testset, make sure both nodes are in sync.
         wait_for_tip(parking_node, good_tip)
         assert_equal(node.getbestblockhash(), parking_node.getbestblockhash())