diff --git a/features/dcs_failsafe_mode.feature b/features/dcs_failsafe_mode.feature
index 4a34b754..8345d8ea 100644
--- a/features/dcs_failsafe_mode.feature
+++ b/features/dcs_failsafe_mode.feature
@@ -4,8 +4,8 @@ Feature: dcs failsafe mode
   Scenario: check failsafe mode can be successfully enabled
     Given I start postgres0
     And postgres0 is a leader after 10 seconds
-    And I sleep for 3 seconds
-    When I issue a PATCH request to http://127.0.0.1:8008/config with {"loop_wait": 2, "ttl": 20, "retry_timeout": 5, "failsafe_mode": true}
+    Then "config" key in DCS has ttl=30 after 10 seconds
+    When I issue a PATCH request to http://127.0.0.1:8008/config with {"loop_wait": 2, "ttl": 20, "retry_timeout": 3, "failsafe_mode": true}
     Then I receive a response code 200
     And Response on GET http://127.0.0.1:8008/failsafe contains postgres0 after 10 seconds
     When I issue a GET request to http://127.0.0.1:8008/failsafe
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ Feature: dcs failsafe mode
     When I do a backup of postgres0
     And I shut down postgres0
     When I start postgres1 in a cluster batman from backup with no_leader
-    And I sleep for 2 seconds
     Then postgres1 role is the replica after 12 seconds
 
   Scenario: check leader and replica are both in /failsafe key after leader is back
@@ -59,12 +58,12 @@ Feature: dcs failsafe mode
     Given DCS is down
     And I kill postgres1
     And I kill postmaster on postgres1
-    And I sleep for 2 seconds
     Then postgres0 role is the replica after 12 seconds
 
   @dcs-failsafe
   Scenario: check known replica is promoted when leader is down and DCS is up
-    Given I shut down postgres0
+    Given I kill postgres0
+    And I shut down postmaster on postgres0
     And DCS is up
     When I start postgres1
     Then "members/postgres1" key in DCS has state=running after 10 seconds
diff --git a/features/environment.py b/features/environment.py
index e3c21252..79db5d16 100644
--- a/features/environment.py
+++ b/features/environment.py
@@ -162,9 +162,10 @@ class PatroniController(AbstractController):
 
     def stop(self, kill=False, timeout=15, postgres=False):
         if postgres:
-            return subprocess.call(['pg_ctl', '-D', self._data_dir, 'stop', '-mi', '-w'])
+            mode = 'i' if kill else 'f'
+            return subprocess.call(['pg_ctl', '-D', self._data_dir, 'stop', '-m' + mode, '-w'])
         super(PatroniController, self).stop(kill, timeout)
-        if isinstance(self._context.dcs_ctl, KubernetesController):
+        if isinstance(self._context.dcs_ctl, KubernetesController) and not kill:
             self._context.dcs_ctl.delete_pod(self._name[8:])
         if self.watchdog:
             self.watchdog.stop()
diff --git a/features/steps/basic_replication.py b/features/steps/basic_replication.py
index 6718cb01..5977eb61 100644
--- a/features/steps/basic_replication.py
+++ b/features/steps/basic_replication.py
@@ -35,11 +35,16 @@ def kill_patroni(context, name):
     return context.pctl.stop(name, kill=True)
 
 
-@step('I kill postmaster on {name:w}')
+@step('I shut down postmaster on {name:w}')
 def stop_postgres(context, name):
     return context.pctl.stop(name, postgres=True)
 
 
+@step('I kill postmaster on {name:w}')
+def kill_postgres(context, name):
+    return context.pctl.stop(name, kill=True, postgres=True)
+
+
 @step('I add the table {table_name:w} to {pg_name:w}')
 def add_table(context, table_name, pg_name):
     # parse the configuration file and get the port
diff --git a/features/steps/cascading_replication.py b/features/steps/cascading_replication.py
index 9783fbae..c6b43f31 100644
--- a/features/steps/cascading_replication.py
+++ b/features/steps/cascading_replication.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def check_member(context, name, key, value, time_limit):
     while time.time() < max_time:
         try:
             response = json.loads(context.dcs_ctl.query(name))
-            dcs_value = response.get(key)
+            dcs_value = str(response.get(key))
             if dcs_value == value:
                 return
         except Exception: