diff --git a/integration-tests/deployment/ccip/deploy_home_chain.go b/integration-tests/deployment/ccip/deploy_home_chain.go
index 316f8604fd5..24c438c0510 100644
--- a/integration-tests/deployment/ccip/deploy_home_chain.go
+++ b/integration-tests/deployment/ccip/deploy_home_chain.go
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ func setupExecDON(
 
 	execCandidateDigest, err := ccipHome.GetCandidateDigest(nil, donID, execConfig.PluginType)
 	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("get commit candidate digest: %w", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("get exec candidate digest 1st time: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	if execCandidateDigest == [32]byte{} {
@@ -605,11 +605,24 @@ func setupExecDON(
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("update don w/ exec config: %w", err)
 	}
-
-	if _, err := deployment.ConfirmIfNoError(home, tx, err); err != nil {
+	bn, err := deployment.ConfirmIfNoError(home, tx, err)
+	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("confirm update don w/ exec config: %w", err)
 	}
-
+	if bn == 0 {
+		return fmt.Errorf("UpdateDON tx not confirmed")
+	}
+	// check if candidate digest is promoted
+	pEvent, err := ccipHome.FilterConfigPromoted(&bind.FilterOpts{
+		Context: context.Background(),
+		Start:   bn,
+	}, [][32]byte{execCandidateDigest})
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("filter exec config promoted: %w", err)
+	}
+	if !pEvent.Next() {
+		return fmt.Errorf("exec config not promoted")
+	}
 	// check that candidate digest is empty.
 	execCandidateDigest, err = ccipHome.GetCandidateDigest(nil, donID, execConfig.PluginType)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/integration-tests/deployment/devenv/chain.go b/integration-tests/deployment/devenv/chain.go
index 10a888c1d0a..fb0503f5b64 100644
--- a/integration-tests/deployment/devenv/chain.go
+++ b/integration-tests/deployment/devenv/chain.go
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@ func NewChains(logger logger.Logger, configs []ChainConfig) (map[uint64]deployme
 						if err != nil {
 							return retry.RetryableError(fmt.Errorf("failed to get receipt for chain %d: %w", chainId, err))
 						}
+						if receipt == nil {
+							return retry.RetryableError(fmt.Errorf("receipt was nil for tx %s", tx.Hash().Hex()))
+						}
 						if receipt != nil {
 							blockNumber = receipt.BlockNumber.Uint64()
 						}