diff --git a/tests/test_registrations/test_review_flows.py b/tests/test_registrations/test_review_flows.py
index 9f6c4306cfd..f12aaec4cc3 100644
--- a/tests/test_registrations/test_review_flows.py
+++ b/tests/test_registrations/test_review_flows.py
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import pytest
-import pytest_socket
 
 from api.providers.workflows import Workflows
 from framework.exceptions import PermissionsError
@@ -98,11 +97,8 @@ def test_approval_flow(self, sanction_object, initial_state, end_state):
         assert registration.sanction._id == sanction_object._id
 
         approval_token = sanction_object.token_for_user(registration.creator, 'approval')
-        try:
+        with capture_notifications(allow_none=True):
             sanction_object.approve(user=registration.creator, token=approval_token)
-        except pytest_socket.SocketConnectBlockedError:
-            with capture_notifications():
-                sanction_object.approve(user=registration.creator, token=approval_token)
 
         registration.refresh_from_db()
         assert registration.moderation_state == end_state.db_name
@@ -137,11 +133,8 @@ def test_rejection_flow(self, sanction_object, initial_state, end_state):
         assert registration.sanction._id == sanction_object._id
 
         rejection_token = sanction_object.token_for_user(registration.creator, 'rejection')
-        try:
+        with capture_notifications(allow_none=True):
             sanction_object.reject(user=registration.creator, token=rejection_token)
-        except pytest_socket.SocketConnectBlockedError:
-            with capture_notifications():
-                sanction_object.reject(user=registration.creator, token=rejection_token)
 
         assert sum([val['has_rejected'] for val in sanction_object.approval_state.values()]) == 1
         registration.refresh_from_db()
@@ -266,10 +259,7 @@ def test_approval_flow(
         registration.refresh_from_db()
         assert registration.moderation_state == intermediate_state.db_name
 
-        try:
-            with capture_notifications():
-                sanction_object.accept(user=moderator)
-        except AssertionError:
+        with capture_notifications(allow_none=True):
             sanction_object.accept(user=moderator)
 
         registration.refresh_from_db()
@@ -347,10 +337,7 @@ def test_moderator_rejection_flow(
         registration.refresh_from_db()
         assert registration.moderation_state == intermediate_state.db_name
 
-        try:
-            with capture_notifications():
-                sanction_object.reject(user=moderator)
-        except AssertionError:
+        with capture_notifications(allow_none=True):
             sanction_object.reject(user=moderator)
 
         registration.refresh_from_db()
@@ -844,11 +831,8 @@ def test_approval(self, pending_registration, child_registration, grandchild_reg
         assert child_registration.moderation_state == pending_registration.moderation_state
         assert grandchild_registration.moderation_state == pending_registration.moderation_state
 
-        try:
+        with capture_notifications(allow_none=True):
             pending_registration.sanction.accept()
-        except pytest_socket.SocketConnectBlockedError:
-            with capture_notifications():
-                pending_registration.sanction.accept()
 
         # verify that all registrations have updated state
         for reg in [pending_registration, child_registration, grandchild_registration]: