diff --git a/test/functional/feature_dersig.py b/test/functional/feature_dersig.py
--- a/test/functional/feature_dersig.py
+++ b/test/functional/feature_dersig.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@
 class BIP66Test(BitcoinTestFramework):
     def set_test_params(self):
         self.num_nodes = 1
-        self.extra_args = [['-whitelist=127.0.0.1']]
+        self.extra_args = [['-whitelist=127.0.0.1', '-enablebip61']]
         self.setup_clean_chain = True
 
     def run_test(self):
@@ -79,19 +79,11 @@
         block.nVersion = 2
         block.rehash()
         block.solve()
-        self.nodes[0].p2p.send_and_ping(msg_block(block))
-        assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getbestblockhash(), tip)
 
-        wait_until(lambda: "reject" in self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message.keys(),
-                   lock=mininode_lock)
-        with mininode_lock:
-            assert_equal(
-                self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"].code, REJECT_OBSOLETE)
-            assert_equal(
-                self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"].reason, b'bad-version(0x00000002)')
-            assert_equal(
-                self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"].data, block.sha256)
-            del self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"]
+        with self.nodes[0].assert_debug_log(expected_msgs=['{}, bad-version(0x00000002)'.format(block.hash)]):
+            self.nodes[0].p2p.send_and_ping(msg_block(block))
+            assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getbestblockhash(), tip)
+            self.nodes[0].p2p.sync_with_ping()
 
         self.log.info(
             "Test that transactions with non-DER signatures cannot appear in a block")
@@ -117,27 +109,19 @@
         block.rehash()
         block.solve()
 
-        self.nodes[0].p2p.send_and_ping(msg_block(block))
-        assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getbestblockhash(), tip)
+        with self.nodes[0].assert_debug_log(expected_msgs=['ConnectBlock {} failed (blk-bad-inputs'.format(block.hash)]):
+            self.nodes[0].p2p.send_and_ping(msg_block(block))
+            assert_equal(self.nodes[0].getbestblockhash(), tip)
+            self.nodes[0].p2p.sync_with_ping()
 
         wait_until(lambda: "reject" in self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message.keys(),
                    lock=mininode_lock)
         with mininode_lock:
-            # We can receive different reject messages depending on whether
-            # bitcoind is running with multiple script check threads. If script
-            # check threads are not in use, then transaction script validation
-            # happens sequentially, and bitcoind produces more specific reject
-            # reasons.
             assert self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"].code in [
                 REJECT_INVALID, REJECT_NONSTANDARD]
             assert_equal(
                 self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"].data, block.sha256)
-            if self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"].code == REJECT_INVALID:
-                # Generic rejection when a block is invalid
-                assert_equal(
-                    self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"].reason, b'blk-bad-inputs')
-            else:
-                assert b'Non-canonical DER signature' in self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"].reason
+            assert b'blk-bad-inputs' in self.nodes[0].p2p.last_message["reject"].reason
 
         self.log.info(
             "Test that a version 3 block with a DERSIG-compliant transaction is accepted")