diff --git a/modules/examples/e2e_test/routing/routing_spec.ts b/modules/examples/e2e_test/routing/routing_spec.ts
index 352d263dc3..821705af61 100644
--- a/modules/examples/e2e_test/routing/routing_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/examples/e2e_test/routing/routing_spec.ts
@@ -7,12 +7,6 @@ function waitForElement(selector) {
   browser.wait(EC.presenceOf($(selector)), 10000);
 }
 
-// returns a promise that resolves in the given number of milliseconds
-function wait(time) {
-  var promise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => { setTimeout(resolve, time); });
-  return promise;
-}
-
 describe('routing inbox-app', function() {
 
   afterEach(verifyNoBrowserErrors);
@@ -69,8 +63,9 @@ describe('routing inbox-app', function() {
       waitForElement('#item-10');
       element(by.css('#item-10')).click();
       waitForElement('#record-id');
-      browser.wait(wait(500), 600);
-      expect(element(by.css('#record-id')).getText()).toEqual('ID: 10');
+      var recordId = element(by.css("#record-id"));
+      browser.wait(protractor.until.elementTextIs(recordId, "ID: 10"), 5000);
+      expect(recordId.getText()).toEqual('ID: 10');
     });
 
     it('should navigate back to the email inbox page when the back button is clicked', function() {
diff --git a/modules/examples/e2e_test/web_workers/web_workers_spec.ts b/modules/examples/e2e_test/web_workers/web_workers_spec.ts
index c37d1b9d4d..7732baa745 100644
--- a/modules/examples/e2e_test/web_workers/web_workers_spec.ts
+++ b/modules/examples/e2e_test/web_workers/web_workers_spec.ts
@@ -1,12 +1,6 @@
 import {verifyNoBrowserErrors} from 'angular2/src/test_lib/e2e_util';
 import {Promise} from 'angular2/src/facade/async';
 
-// returns a promise that resolves in the given number of milliseconds
-function wait(time) {
-  var promise = new Promise((resolve, reject) => { setTimeout(resolve, time); });
-  return promise;
-}
-
 describe('WebWorkers', function() {
   afterEach(verifyNoBrowserErrors);
   var selector = "hello-app .greeting";
@@ -23,9 +17,10 @@ describe('WebWorkers', function() {
     browser.get(URL);
 
     browser.wait(protractor.until.elementLocated(by.css(selector)), 5000);
-    element.all(by.css(".changeButton")).first().click();
-    browser.wait(wait(500), 600);
-    expect(element.all(by.css(selector)).first().getText()).toEqual("howdy world!");
+    element(by.css("hello-app .changeButton")).click();
+    var elem = element(by.css(selector));
+    browser.wait(protractor.until.elementTextIs(elem, "howdy world!"), 5000);
+    expect(elem.getText()).toEqual("howdy world!");
   });
 
   it("should display correct key names", () => {
@@ -34,9 +29,9 @@ describe('WebWorkers', function() {
 
     var area = element.all(by.css(".sample-area")).first();
     expect(area.getText()).toEqual('(none)');
-    browser.wait(wait(500), 600);
 
     area.sendKeys('u');
+    browser.wait(protractor.until.elementTextIs(area, "U"), 5000);
     expect(area.getText()).toEqual("U");
   });
 });