diff --git a/scripts/crl-revoked.test b/scripts/crl-revoked.test
index 821b6aac8..e49611c64 100755
--- a/scripts/crl-revoked.test
+++ b/scripts/crl-revoked.test
@@ -79,6 +79,9 @@ run_test() {
         counter=$((counter+ 1))
     done
 
+    # sleep for an additional 0.1 to mitigate race on write/read of $ready_file:
+    sleep 0.1
+
     if test -e $ready_file; then
         echo -e "found ready file, starting client..."
     else
@@ -87,7 +90,7 @@ run_test() {
     fi
 
     # get created port 0 ephemeral port
-    crl_port=`cat $ready_file`
+    crl_port="$(cat $ready_file)"
 
     # starts client on crl_port and captures the output from client
     capture_out=$(./examples/client/client -p $crl_port 2>&1)
diff --git a/scripts/ocsp-stapling-with-ca-as-responder.test b/scripts/ocsp-stapling-with-ca-as-responder.test
index fa264ef0f..faccf985f 100755
--- a/scripts/ocsp-stapling-with-ca-as-responder.test
+++ b/scripts/ocsp-stapling-with-ca-as-responder.test
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
     exit 0
 fi
 
-PARENTDIR=`pwd`
+PARENTDIR="$PWD"
 
 # create a unique workspace directory ending in PID for the script instance ($$)
 # to make this instance orthogonal to any others running, even on same repo.
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ create_new_cnf() {
 
     mv $test_cnf $CERT_DIR/$test_cnf
     cd $CERT_DIR
-    CURR_LOC=`pwd`
+    CURR_LOC="$PWD"
     printf '%s\n' "echo now in $CURR_LOC"
     ./renewcerts-for-test.sh $test_cnf
     cd $WORKSPACE
@@ -202,11 +202,10 @@ if [ ! -f $ready_file ]; then
     printf '%s\n' "Failed to create ready file: \"$ready_file\""
     exit 1
 else
-    RPORTSELECTED=`cat $ready_file`
-    printf '%s\n' "Random port selected: $RPORTSELECTED"
+    printf '%s\n' "Random port selected: $port1"
     # Use client connection to shutdown the server cleanly
-    ./examples/client/client -p $RPORTSELECTED
-    create_new_cnf $RPORTSELECTED
+    ./examples/client/client -p $port1
+    create_new_cnf $port1
 fi
 sleep 0.1
 
@@ -224,7 +223,7 @@ sleep 0.1
 # OLD: ./certs/ocsp/ocspd-intermediate1-ca-issued-certs-with-ca-as-responder.sh &
 # NEW: openssl isn't being cleaned up, invoke directly in script for cleanup
 # purposes!
-openssl ocsp -port $RPORTSELECTED -nmin 1                       \
+openssl ocsp -port $port1 -nmin 1                               \
     -index   certs/ocsp/index-intermediate1-ca-issued-certs.txt \
     -rsigner certs/ocsp/intermediate1-ca-cert.pem               \
     -rkey    certs/ocsp/intermediate1-ca-key.pem                \
@@ -241,10 +240,10 @@ printf '%s\n\n' "------------- TEST CASE 1 SHOULD PASS ------------------------"
 ./examples/server/server -c certs/ocsp/server1-cert.pem \
                          -k certs/ocsp/server1-key.pem -R $ready_file2 \
                          -p $port2 &
-wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2
-CLI_PORT=`cat $ready_file2`
+wolf_pid2=$!
+wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2 $wolf_pid2 $port2
 ./examples/client/client -C -A certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem -W 1 \
-                         -p $CLI_PORT
+                         -p $port2
 RESULT=$?
 [ $RESULT -ne 0 ] && printf '\n\n%s\n' "Client connection failed" && exit 1
 printf '%s\n\n' "Test PASSED!"
@@ -255,10 +254,10 @@ remove_single_rF $ready_file2
 ./examples/server/server -c certs/ocsp/server2-cert.pem \
                          -k certs/ocsp/server2-key.pem -R $ready_file2 \
                          -p $port2 &
-wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2
-CLI_PORT=`cat $ready_file2`
+wolf_pid2=$!
+wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2 $wolf_pid2 $port2
 ./examples/client/client -C -A certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem -W 1 \
-                         -p $CLI_PORT
+                         -p $port2
 RESULT=$?
 [ $RESULT -ne 1 ] && printf '\n\n%s\n' "Client connection succeeded $RESULT" && exit 1
 printf '%s\n\n' "Test successfully REVOKED!"
diff --git a/scripts/ocsp-stapling.test b/scripts/ocsp-stapling.test
index 4df14a53e..758959986 100755
--- a/scripts/ocsp-stapling.test
+++ b/scripts/ocsp-stapling.test
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
 fi
 
 
-PARENTDIR=`pwd`
+PARENTDIR="$PWD"
 
 # create a unique workspace directory ending in PID for the script instance ($$)
 # to make this instance orthogonal to any others running, even on same repo.
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ create_new_cnf() {
 
     mv $test_cnf $CERT_DIR/$test_cnf
     cd $CERT_DIR
-    CURR_LOC=`pwd`
+    CURR_LOC="$PWD"
     printf '%s\n' "echo now in $CURR_LOC"
     ./renewcerts-for-test.sh $test_cnf
     cd $WORKSPACE
@@ -162,8 +162,8 @@ if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
 fi
 
 # check if supported key size is large enough to handle 4096 bit RSA
-size=`./examples/client/client '-?' | grep "Max RSA key"`
-size=`echo ${size//[^0-9]/}`
+size="$(./examples/client/client '-?' | grep "Max RSA key")"
+size="${size//[^0-9]/}"
 if [ ! -z "$size" ]; then
     printf 'check on max key size of %d ...' $size
     if [ $size -lt 4096 ]; then
@@ -199,9 +199,8 @@ port3=$(get_first_free_port $((port2 + 1)))
 
 
 # test interop fail case
-ready_file=`pwd`/wolf_ocsp_readyF$$
+ready_file=$PWD/wolf_ocsp_readyF$$
 printf '%s\n' "ready file:  $ready_file"
-# bind to any (allows use with IPv6)
 ./examples/server/server -b -p $port1 -o -R $ready_file &
 wolf_pid=$!
 wait_for_readyFile $ready_file $wolf_pid $port1
@@ -210,8 +209,7 @@ if [ ! -f $ready_file ]; then
     exit 1
 else
     # should fail if ocspstapling is also enabled
-    RPORTSELECTED=`cat $ready_file`
-    echo "hi" | openssl s_client -status -connect 127.0.0.1:${RPORTSELECTED} -cert ./certs/client-cert.pem -key ./certs/client-key.pem -CAfile ./certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem
+    echo "hi" | openssl s_client -status -connect 127.0.0.1:$port1 -cert ./certs/client-cert.pem -key ./certs/client-key.pem -CAfile ./certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem
     if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
         printf '%s\n' "Succeeded when should have failed"
         remove_single_rF $ready_file
@@ -234,11 +232,10 @@ if [ ! -f $ready_file ]; then
     printf '%s\n' "Failed to create ready file: \"$ready_file\""
     exit 1
 else
-    RPORTSELECTED=`cat $ready_file`
-    printf '%s\n' "Random port selected: $RPORTSELECTED"
+    printf '%s\n' "Random port selected: $port2"
     # Use client connection to shutdown the server cleanly
-    ./examples/client/client -p $RPORTSELECTED
-    create_new_cnf $RPORTSELECTED
+    ./examples/client/client -p $port2
+    create_new_cnf $port2
 fi
 sleep 0.1
 
@@ -266,7 +263,7 @@ fi
 # OLD: ./certs/ocsp/ocspd-intermediate1-ca-issued-certs.sh &
 # NEW: openssl isn't being cleaned up, invoke directly in script for cleanup
 # purposes!
-openssl ocsp -port $RPORTSELECTED -nmin 1                       \
+openssl ocsp -port $port2 -nmin 1                               \
     -index   certs/ocsp/index-intermediate1-ca-issued-certs.txt \
     -rsigner certs/ocsp/ocsp-responder-cert.pem                 \
     -rkey    certs/ocsp/ocsp-responder-key.pem                  \
@@ -282,9 +279,9 @@ printf '%s\n\n' "------------- TEST CASE 1 SHOULD PASS ------------------------"
 # client test against our own server - GOOD CERT
 ./examples/server/server -c certs/ocsp/server1-cert.pem -R $ready_file2 \
                          -k certs/ocsp/server1-key.pem -p $port3 &
-wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2
-CLI_PORT=`cat $ready_file2`
-./examples/client/client -C -A certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem -W 1 -p $CLI_PORT
+wolf_pid3=$!
+wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2 $wolf_pid3 $port3
+./examples/client/client -C -A certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem -W 1 -p $port3
 RESULT=$?
 [ $RESULT -ne 0 ] && printf '\n\n%s\n' "Client connection 2 failed" && exit 1
 printf '%s\n\n' "Test PASSED!"
@@ -294,10 +291,10 @@ printf '%s\n\n' "------------- TEST CASE 2 SHOULD REVOKE ----------------------"
 remove_single_rF $ready_file2
 ./examples/server/server -c certs/ocsp/server2-cert.pem -R $ready_file2 \
                          -k certs/ocsp/server2-key.pem -p $port3 &
-wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2
+wolf_pid3=$!
+wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2 $wolf_pid3 $port3
 sleep 0.1
-CLI_PORT=`cat $ready_file2`
-./examples/client/client -C -A certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem -W 1 -p $CLI_PORT
+./examples/client/client -C -A certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem -W 1 -p $port3
 RESULT=$?
 [ $RESULT -ne 1 ] && printf '\n\n%s\n' "Client connection succeeded $RESULT" \
                   && exit 1
@@ -312,10 +309,10 @@ if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
     ./examples/server/server -c certs/ocsp/server1-cert.pem -R $ready_file2 \
                              -k certs/ocsp/server1-key.pem -v 4 \
                              -p $port3 &
-    wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2
-    CLI_PORT=`cat $ready_file2`
+    wolf_pid3=$!
+    wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2 $wolf_pid3 $port3
     ./examples/client/client -C -A certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem -W 1 -v 4 -F 1 \
-                             -p $CLI_PORT
+                             -p $port3
     RESULT=$?
     [ $RESULT -ne 0 ] && printf '\n\n%s\n' "Client connection 3 failed" && exit 1
     printf '%s\n\n' "Test PASSED!"
@@ -326,10 +323,10 @@ if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
     ./examples/server/server -c certs/ocsp/server2-cert.pem -R $ready_file2 \
                              -k certs/ocsp/server2-key.pem -v 4 \
                              -p $port3 &
-    wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2
-    CLI_PORT=`cat $ready_file2`
+    wolf_pid3=$!
+    wait_for_readyFile $ready_file2 $wolf_pid3 $port3
     ./examples/client/client -C -A certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem -W 1 -v 4 -F 1 \
-                             -p $CLI_PORT
+                             -p $port3
     RESULT=$?
     [ $RESULT -ne 1 ] && \
                       printf '\n\n%s\n' "Client connection succeeded $RESULT" \
diff --git a/scripts/ocsp-stapling2.test b/scripts/ocsp-stapling2.test
index a52975cd9..80c344cbb 100755
--- a/scripts/ocsp-stapling2.test
+++ b/scripts/ocsp-stapling2.test
@@ -330,10 +330,9 @@ printf '%s\n\n' "TEST CASE 2 DISABLED PENDING REVIEW"
 #./examples/server/server -c certs/ocsp/server3-cert.pem \
 #                         -k certs/ocsp/server3-key.pem -R $ready_file5 \
 #                         -p $port5 &
-#wait_for_readyFile $ready_file5
-#CLI_PORT=`cat $ready_file5`
+#wait_for_readyFile $ready_file5 $server_pid5 $port5
 #./examples/client/client -C -A certs/ocsp/root-ca-cert.pem -W 3 -v 3 \
-#                         -p $CLI_PORT
+#                         -p $port5
 #RESULT=$?
 #[ $RESULT -ne 0 ] && printf '\n\n%s\n' "Client connection 2 failed" && exit 1
 #printf '%s\n\n' "Test PASSED!"
diff --git a/scripts/pkcallbacks.test b/scripts/pkcallbacks.test
index 82aaef1e4..a614741e6 100755
--- a/scripts/pkcallbacks.test
+++ b/scripts/pkcallbacks.test
@@ -95,6 +95,9 @@ run_test() {
         exit 1
     fi
 
+    # sleep for an additional 0.1 to mitigate race on write/read of $ready_file:
+    sleep 0.1
+
     # get created port 0 ephemeral port
     pk_port=`cat $ready_file`
 
diff --git a/scripts/psk.test b/scripts/psk.test
index cef3beba2..e0dc81708 100755
--- a/scripts/psk.test
+++ b/scripts/psk.test
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ create_port() {
     if test -e $ready_file; then
         echo -e "found ready file, starting client..."
 
+        # sleep for an additional 0.1 to mitigate race on write/read of $ready_file:
+        sleep 0.1
+
         # get created port 0 ephemeral port
         port=`cat $ready_file`
     else
diff --git a/scripts/resume.test b/scripts/resume.test
index 7d02339c6..a523c5168 100755
--- a/scripts/resume.test
+++ b/scripts/resume.test
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ do_test() {
         exit 1
     fi
 
+    # sleep for an additional 0.1 to mitigate race on write/read of $ready_file:
+    sleep 0.1
+
     # get created port 0 ephemeral port
     resume_port=`cat $ready_file`
 
diff --git a/scripts/tls13.test b/scripts/tls13.test
index e393e68aa..9c861b51f 100755
--- a/scripts/tls13.test
+++ b/scripts/tls13.test
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ create_port() {
     if [ -e $ready_file ]; then
         echo -e "found ready file, starting client..."
 
+        # sleep for an additional 0.1 to mitigate race on write/read of $ready_file:
+        sleep 0.1
+
         # get created port 0 ephemeral port
         port=`cat $ready_file`
     else
diff --git a/scripts/trusted_peer.test b/scripts/trusted_peer.test
index f6e4b3e0b..82e61ef8c 100755
--- a/scripts/trusted_peer.test
+++ b/scripts/trusted_peer.test
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ create_port() {
     if test -e $ready_file; then
         echo -e "found ready file, starting client..."
 
+        # sleep for an additional 0.1 to mitigate race on write/read of $ready_file:
+        sleep 0.1
+
         # get created port 0 ephemeral port
         port=`cat $ready_file`
     else