diff --git a/test-playwright/20-create-project.spec.ts b/test-playwright/20-create-project.spec.ts
index 3824f84d..5bdd3db3 100644
--- a/test-playwright/20-create-project.spec.ts
+++ b/test-playwright/20-create-project.spec.ts
@@ -107,11 +107,16 @@ test('Create new project, then search for it', async ({ page }) => {
 
   // Create new project
   await page.goto('./projects');
-  // close onboarding using established pattern
-  await page.getByTestId('closeOnboardingAndFinish').click();
-  await page.waitForFunction(() => {
-    return !document.querySelector('.dialog-overlay');
-  }, { timeout: 5000 });
+  // Check if onboarding dialog exists and close it if present
+  try {
+    await page.getByTestId('closeOnboardingAndFinish').click({ timeout: 2000 });
+    await page.waitForFunction(() => {
+      return !document.querySelector('.dialog-overlay');
+    }, { timeout: 5000 });
+  } catch (error) {
+    // No onboarding dialog present, continue
+    console.log('No onboarding dialog found on projects page');
+  }
   await page.locator('button > svg.fa-plus').click();
   await page.getByPlaceholder('Idea Name').fill(finalTitle);
   await page.getByPlaceholder('Description').fill(finalDescription);
@@ -120,13 +125,27 @@ test('Create new project, then search for it', async ({ page }) => {
   await page.getByPlaceholder('Start Time').fill(finalTime);
   await page.getByRole('button', { name: 'Save Project' }).click();
 
+  // Wait for project to be saved and page to update
+  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
+  
   // Check texts
   await expect(page.locator('h2')).toContainText(finalTitle);
   await expect(page.locator('#Content')).toContainText(finalDescription);
 
   // Search for newly-created project in /projects
   await page.goto('./projects');
-  await expect(page.locator('ul#listProjects li').filter({ hasText: finalTitle })).toBeVisible();
+  // Wait for projects list to load and then search for the project
+  await page.waitForLoadState('networkidle');
+  
+  // Debug: Log all projects in the list
+  const projectItems = await page.locator('ul#listProjects li').all();
+  console.log(`Found ${projectItems.length} projects in list`);
+  for (let i = 0; i < projectItems.length; i++) {
+    const text = await projectItems[i].textContent();
+    console.log(`Project ${i}: ${text}`);
+  }
+  
+  await expect(page.locator('ul#listProjects li').filter({ hasText: finalTitle })).toBeVisible({ timeout: 10000 });
 
   // Search for newly-created project in /discover
   await page.goto('./discover');
diff --git a/test-playwright/25-create-project-x10.spec.ts b/test-playwright/25-create-project-x10.spec.ts
index 91f16bd6..e715d406 100644
--- a/test-playwright/25-create-project-x10.spec.ts
+++ b/test-playwright/25-create-project-x10.spec.ts
@@ -126,11 +126,16 @@ test('Create 10 new projects', async ({ page }) => {
   for (let i = 0; i < projectCount; i++) {
     await page.goto('./projects');
     if (i === 0) {
-      // close onboarding using established pattern
-      await page.getByTestId('closeOnboardingAndFinish').click();
-      await page.waitForFunction(() => {
-        return !document.querySelector('.dialog-overlay');
-      }, { timeout: 5000 });
+      // Check if onboarding dialog exists and close it if present
+      try {
+        await page.getByTestId('closeOnboardingAndFinish').click({ timeout: 2000 });
+        await page.waitForFunction(() => {
+          return !document.querySelector('.dialog-overlay');
+        }, { timeout: 5000 });
+      } catch (error) {
+        // No onboarding dialog present, continue
+        console.log('No onboarding dialog found on projects page');
+      }
     }
     await page.locator('button > svg.fa-plus').click();
     await page.getByPlaceholder('Idea Name').fill(finalTitles[i]); // Add random suffix