diff --git a/features/apt_messages.feature b/features/apt_messages.feature
index 35d47b8da1..0490b0bec7 100644
--- a/features/apt_messages.feature
+++ b/features/apt_messages.feature
@@ -720,7 +720,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    When I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     When I apt upgrade
     Then I will see the following on stdout
       """
@@ -747,7 +749,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    When I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     When I apt upgrade
     Then I will see the following on stdout
       """
@@ -779,7 +783,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    When I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     When I apt upgrade
     Then I will see the following on stdout:
       """
@@ -810,7 +816,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    When I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     When I apt upgrade
     Then I will see the following on stdout:
       """
@@ -837,7 +845,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    When I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     When I apt upgrade
     Then I will see the following on stdout:
       """
@@ -871,7 +881,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    And I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     And I apt upgrade
     Then I will see the following on stdout:
       """
@@ -901,7 +913,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
       """
     And I apt install `<package>=<installed_version>`
     And I run `apt-mark hold <package>` with sudo
-    And I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     And I apt upgrade
     Then stdout contains substring:
       """
@@ -927,7 +941,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    And I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     And I apt upgrade
     Then stdout contains substring:
       """
@@ -955,7 +971,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    And I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     And I apt upgrade
     Then stdout contains substring:
       """
@@ -985,7 +1003,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    And I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    When I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    When I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    When I wait `5` seconds
     And I apt upgrade
     Then stdout contains substring:
       """
@@ -1014,7 +1034,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    And I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    And I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    And I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    And I wait `5` seconds
     And I apt upgrade
     Then I will see the following on stdout:
       """
@@ -1045,7 +1067,9 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         ]
       }
       """
-    And I run `pro refresh messages` with sudo
+    And I run `rm -rf /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
+    And I run `systemctl start apt-news.service` with sudo
+    And I wait `5` seconds
     And I apt upgrade
     Then I will see the following on stdout:
       """
diff --git a/features/steps/machines.py b/features/steps/machines.py
index b1aedbf320..b2cdb45c13 100644
--- a/features/steps/machines.py
+++ b/features/steps/machines.py
@@ -107,6 +107,13 @@ def given_a_machine(
             machine_name=machine_name,
         )
 
+    when_i_run_command(
+        context,
+        "systemctl mask apt-news.service",
+        "with sudo",
+        machine_name=machine_name,
+    )
+
     # make sure the machine has up-to-date apt data
     when_i_apt_update(context, machine_name=machine_name)
 
@@ -116,6 +123,13 @@ def given_a_machine(
             context, "python3-coverage", machine_name=machine_name
         )
 
+    when_i_run_command(
+        context,
+        "systemctl unmask apt-news.service",
+        "with sudo",
+        machine_name=machine_name,
+    )
+
     if cleanup:
 
         def cleanup_instance():
@@ -232,9 +246,20 @@ def given_a_sut_machine(context, series, machine_type):
         )
     else:
         given_a_machine(context, series, machine_type=machine_type)
+        when_i_run_command(
+            context,
+            "systemctl mask apt-news.service",
+            "with sudo",
+        )
         _update_distro_info_data(context)
         when_i_install_uat(context)
 
+        when_i_run_command(
+            context,
+            "systemctl unmask apt-news.service",
+            "with sudo",
+        )
+
     # trigger GH: #3137 on all machines
     when_i_run_command(
         context,