diff --git a/scripts/ci/plat/cva6/flash-firmware.sh b/scripts/ci/plat/cva6/flash-firmware.sh
index e2daaf204..27254a609 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/plat/cva6/flash-firmware.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/plat/cva6/flash-firmware.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ start_record_tty "$TTYDEV" 115200 "$LOGFILE" cva6-tty
 
 # Wait for bootrom break
 power_on
-./scripts/ci/utils/wait_for.py "$LOGFILE" "Hit any key to enter update mode"
+wait_for "Hit any key to enter update mode"
 echo -n 'a' > "$TTYDEV"
 sleep 1
 
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ printf "0: %.8x" "$FILESIZE" | sed -E 's/0: (..)(..)(..)(..)/0: \4\3\2\1/' | xxd
 sleep 1
 
 # Send bytes
-dd if="$FIRMWARE_FILENAME" of="$TTYDEV" bs=1 status=progress 2>&1 | awk 'NR % 5 == 0'
+dd if="$FIRMWARE_FILENAME" of="$TTYDEV"
 
 ## Uboot phase (TFTP)
 
 # Wait for uboot prompt and send firmware image
-./scripts/ci/utils/wait_for.py "$LOGFILE" "Hit any key to stop autoboot"
+wait_for "Hit any key to stop autoboot"
 echo 'a' > "$TTYDEV"
 
 rm -f "$TFTP_DIR/fw_payload.bin"
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ cp "$FIRMWARE_FILENAME" "$TFTP_DIR/fw_payload.bin"
 
 echo "setenv serverip $HOST_IP" > "$TTYDEV" ; sleep 1
 echo "setenv ipaddr $BOARD_IP" > "$TTYDEV" ; sleep 1
-echo "tftp fw_payload.bin" > "$TTYDEV" ; sleep 1
-echo "mmc write 80200000 800 1800" > "$TTYDEV" ; sleep 1
+
+echo "tftp fw_payload.bin" > "$TTYDEV"
+wait_for "=>"
+echo "mmc write 80200000 800 1800" > "$TTYDEV"
+wait_for "=>"
 
 stop_record_tty cva6-tty
 power_off
diff --git a/scripts/ci/test-setup.sh b/scripts/ci/test-setup.sh
index b8216c3fd..1b45506ce 100755
--- a/scripts/ci/test-setup.sh
+++ b/scripts/ci/test-setup.sh
@@ -121,6 +121,15 @@ function stop_record_tty {
 	screen -wipe
 }
 
+function wait_for {
+	if [[ "$#" -ne 1 ];; then
+		echo "usage: wait_for [pattern]"
+		exit 1
+	fi
+
+	./scripts/ci/utils/wait_for.py "$LOGFILE" "$1"
+}
+
 #############
 ## Cleanup ##
 #############