diff --git a/test/functional/feature_init.py b/test/functional/feature_init.py
index 15b3e8595fc..a7b7e0c6760 100755
--- a/test/functional/feature_init.py
+++ b/test/functional/feature_init.py
@@ -47,18 +47,20 @@ class InitTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
                 node.process.terminate()
             node.process.wait()
 
-        def start_expecting_error(err_fragment):
+        def start_expecting_error(err_fragment, args):
             node.assert_start_raises_init_error(
-                extra_args=['-txindex=1', '-blockfilterindex=1', '-coinstatsindex=1', '-checkblocks=200', '-checklevel=4'],
+                extra_args=args,
                 expected_msg=err_fragment,
                 match=ErrorMatch.PARTIAL_REGEX,
             )
 
-        def check_clean_start():
+        def check_clean_start(extra_args):
             """Ensure that node restarts successfully after various interrupts."""
-            node.start()
+            node.start(extra_args)
             node.wait_for_rpc_connection()
-            assert_equal(200, node.getblockcount())
+            height = node.getblockcount()
+            assert_equal(200, height)
+            self.wait_until(lambda: all(i["synced"] and i["best_block_height"] == height for i in node.getindexinfo().values()))
 
         lines_to_terminate_after = [
             b'Validating signatures for all blocks',
@@ -97,34 +99,83 @@ class InitTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
             self.log.debug("Terminating node after terminate line was found")
             sigterm_node()
 
-        check_clean_start()
+        # Prior to deleting/perturbing index files, start node with all indexes enabled.
+        # 'check_clean_start' will ensure indexes are synchronized (i.e., data exists to modify)
+        check_clean_start(args)
         self.stop_node(0)
 
         self.log.info("Test startup errors after removing certain essential files")
 
-        files_to_delete = {
-            'blocks/index/*.ldb': 'Error opening block database.',
-            'chainstate/*.ldb': 'Error opening coins database.',
-            'blocks/blk*.dat': 'Error loading block database.',
-            'indexes/txindex/MANIFEST*': 'LevelDB error: Corruption: CURRENT points to a non-existent file',
+        deletion_rounds = [
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'blocks/index/*.ldb',
+                'error_message': 'Error opening block database.',
+                'startup_args': [],
+            },
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'chainstate/*.ldb',
+                'error_message': 'Error opening coins database.',
+                'startup_args': ['-checklevel=4'],
+            },
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'blocks/blk*.dat',
+                'error_message': 'Error loading block database.',
+                'startup_args': ['-checkblocks=200', '-checklevel=4'],
+            },
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'indexes/txindex/MANIFEST*',
+                'error_message': 'LevelDB error: Corruption: CURRENT points to a non-existent file',
+                'startup_args': ['-txindex=1'],
+            },
             # Removing these files does not result in a startup error:
             # 'indexes/blockfilter/basic/*.dat', 'indexes/blockfilter/basic/db/*.*', 'indexes/coinstats/db/*.*',
             # 'indexes/txindex/*.log', 'indexes/txindex/CURRENT', 'indexes/txindex/LOCK'
-        }
+        ]
 
-        files_to_perturb = {
-            'blocks/index/*.ldb': 'Error loading block database.',
-            'chainstate/*.ldb': 'Error opening coins database.',
-            'blocks/blk*.dat': 'Corrupted block database detected.',
-            'indexes/blockfilter/basic/db/*.*': 'LevelDB error: Corruption',
-            'indexes/coinstats/db/*.*': 'LevelDB error: Corruption',
-            'indexes/txindex/*.log': 'LevelDB error: Corruption',
-            'indexes/txindex/CURRENT': 'LevelDB error: Corruption',
+        perturbation_rounds = [
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'blocks/index/*.ldb',
+                'error_message': 'Error loading block database.',
+                'startup_args': [],
+            },
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'chainstate/*.ldb',
+                'error_message': 'Error opening coins database.',
+                'startup_args': [],
+            },
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'blocks/blk*.dat',
+                'error_message': 'Corrupted block database detected.',
+                'startup_args': ['-checkblocks=200', '-checklevel=4'],
+            },
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'indexes/blockfilter/basic/db/*.*',
+                'error_message': 'LevelDB error: Corruption',
+                'startup_args': ['-blockfilterindex=1'],
+            },
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'indexes/coinstats/db/*.*',
+                'error_message': 'LevelDB error: Corruption',
+                'startup_args': ['-coinstatsindex=1'],
+            },
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'indexes/txindex/*.log',
+                'error_message': 'LevelDB error: Corruption',
+                'startup_args': ['-txindex=1'],
+            },
+            {
+                'filepath_glob': 'indexes/txindex/CURRENT',
+                'error_message': 'LevelDB error: Corruption',
+                'startup_args': ['-txindex=1'],
+            },
             # Perturbing these files does not result in a startup error:
             # 'indexes/blockfilter/basic/*.dat', 'indexes/txindex/MANIFEST*', 'indexes/txindex/LOCK'
-        }
+        ]
 
-        for file_patt, err_fragment in files_to_delete.items():
+        for round_info in deletion_rounds:
+            file_patt = round_info['filepath_glob']
+            err_fragment = round_info['error_message']
+            startup_args = round_info['startup_args']
             target_files = list(node.chain_path.glob(file_patt))
 
             for target_file in target_files:
@@ -132,19 +183,23 @@ class InitTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
                 bak_path = str(target_file) + ".bak"
                 target_file.rename(bak_path)
 
-            start_expecting_error(err_fragment)
+            start_expecting_error(err_fragment, startup_args)
 
             for target_file in target_files:
                 bak_path = str(target_file) + ".bak"
                 self.log.debug(f"Restoring file from {bak_path} and restarting")
                 Path(bak_path).rename(target_file)
 
-            check_clean_start()
+            check_clean_start(args)
             self.stop_node(0)
 
         self.log.info("Test startup errors after perturbing certain essential files")
         dirs = ["blocks", "chainstate", "indexes"]
-        for file_patt, err_fragment in files_to_perturb.items():
+        for round_info in perturbation_rounds:
+            file_patt = round_info['filepath_glob']
+            err_fragment = round_info['error_message']
+            startup_args = round_info['startup_args']
+
             for dir in dirs:
                 shutil.copytree(node.chain_path / dir, node.chain_path / f"{dir}_bak")
             target_files = list(node.chain_path.glob(file_patt))
@@ -158,7 +213,7 @@ class InitTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
                     tf.seek(150)
                     tf.write(b"1" * 200)
 
-            start_expecting_error(err_fragment)
+            start_expecting_error(err_fragment, startup_args)
 
             for dir in dirs:
                 shutil.rmtree(node.chain_path / dir)