diff --git a/hc/api/management/commands/sendreports.py b/hc/api/management/commands/sendreports.py
index 2558be3a..bcb421cc 100644
--- a/hc/api/management/commands/sendreports.py
+++ b/hc/api/management/commands/sendreports.py
@@ -18,6 +18,9 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
     help = 'Send due monthly reports and nags'
     tmpl = "Sent monthly report to %s"
 
+    def pause(self):
+        time.sleep(1)
+
     def add_arguments(self, parser):
         parser.add_argument(
             '--loop',
@@ -56,7 +59,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         if profile.send_report():
             self.stdout.write(self.tmpl % profile.user.email)
             # Pause before next report to avoid hitting sending quota
-            time.sleep(1)
+            self.pause()
 
         return True
 
@@ -80,7 +83,7 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
         if profile.send_report(nag=True):
             self.stdout.write("Sent nag to %s" % profile.user.email)
             # Pause before next report to avoid hitting sending quota
-            time.sleep(1)
+            self.pause()
         else:
             profile.next_nag_date = None
             profile.save()
diff --git a/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py b/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py
index 2275adfa..6ddb0712 100644
--- a/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py
+++ b/hc/api/tests/test_sendalerts.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 from datetime import timedelta
+from io import StringIO
 from mock import Mock, patch
 
 from django.core.management import call_command
@@ -89,7 +90,8 @@ class SendAlertsTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         check.alert_after = check.get_alert_after()
         check.save()
 
-        call_command("sendalerts", loop=False, use_threads=False)
+        call_command("sendalerts", loop=False, use_threads=False,
+                     stdout=StringIO())
 
         # It should call `notify` instead of `notify_on_thread`
         self.assertTrue(mock_notify.called)
diff --git a/hc/api/tests/test_sendreports.py b/hc/api/tests/test_sendreports.py
index 44ca4b39..ae5a9cf9 100644
--- a/hc/api/tests/test_sendreports.py
+++ b/hc/api/tests/test_sendreports.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ from django.utils.timezone import now
 from hc.api.management.commands.sendreports import Command
 from hc.api.models import Check
 from hc.test import BaseTestCase
+from mock import Mock, patch
 
 
 class SendAlertsTestCase(BaseTestCase):
@@ -28,7 +29,11 @@ class SendAlertsTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         self.check.save()
 
     def test_it_sends_report(self):
-        found = Command().handle_one_monthly_report()
+        cmd = Command()
+        cmd.stdout = Mock()  # silence output to stdout 
+        cmd.pause = Mock()  # don't pause for 1s
+
+        found = cmd.handle_one_monthly_report()
         self.assertTrue(found)
 
         self.profile.refresh_from_db()
@@ -59,7 +64,11 @@ class SendAlertsTestCase(BaseTestCase):
         self.assertEqual(len(mail.outbox), 0)
 
     def test_it_sends_nag(self):
-        found = Command().handle_one_nag()
+        cmd = Command()
+        cmd.stdout = Mock()  # silence output to stdout
+        cmd.pause = Mock()  # don't pause for 1s
+
+        found = cmd.handle_one_nag()
         self.assertTrue(found)
 
         self.profile.refresh_from_db()