diff --git a/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/opentrons_api/helpers_ot3.py b/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/opentrons_api/helpers_ot3.py
index 2eaec14d627..e4485b9c974 100644
--- a/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/opentrons_api/helpers_ot3.py
+++ b/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/opentrons_api/helpers_ot3.py
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@
 TIP_LENGTH_OVERLAP = 10.5
 TIP_LENGTH_LOOKUP = {50: 57.9, 200: 58.35, 1000: 95.6}
 
+RESET_DELAY_SECONDS = 2
+
 
 @dataclass
 class CalibrationSquare:
@@ -128,6 +130,8 @@ async def update_firmware(
     api: OT3API, force: bool = False, subsystems: Optional[List[SubSystem]] = None
 ) -> None:
     """Update firmware of OT3."""
+    if not api.is_simulator:
+        await asyncio.sleep(RESET_DELAY_SECONDS)
     subsystems_on_boot = api.attached_subsystems
     progress_tracker: Dict[SubSystem, List[int]] = {}
 
@@ -150,6 +154,14 @@ def _print_update_progress() -> None:
             _print_update_progress()
 
 
+async def reset_api(api: OT3API) -> None:
+    """Reset OT3API."""
+    if not api.is_simulator:
+        await asyncio.sleep(RESET_DELAY_SECONDS)
+    await api.cache_instruments()
+    await api.refresh_positions()
+
+
 async def build_async_ot3_hardware_api(
     is_simulating: Optional[bool] = False,
     use_defaults: Optional[bool] = True,
@@ -192,13 +204,10 @@ async def build_async_ot3_hardware_api(
         print(e)
         kwargs["use_usb_bus"] = False  # type: ignore[assignment]
         api = await builder(loop=loop, **kwargs)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
-    if not is_simulating:
-        await asyncio.sleep(0.5)
     if not is_simulating:
         await update_firmware(api)
     print(f"Firmware: v{api.fw_version}")
-    await api.cache_instruments()
-    await api.refresh_positions()
+    await reset_api(api)
     return api
 
 
diff --git a/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/production_qc/firmware_check.py b/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/production_qc/firmware_check.py
index e17306d4eb9..f84f5eb386c 100644
--- a/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/production_qc/firmware_check.py
+++ b/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/production_qc/firmware_check.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 """Firmware Check."""
-from asyncio import run, sleep
+from asyncio import run
 from typing import List
 
 from opentrons.hardware_control.ot3api import OT3API
@@ -13,10 +13,12 @@
 def _get_instrument_serial_number(api: OT3API, subsystem: SubSystem) -> str:
     if subsystem == SubSystem.pipette_right:
         _pip = api.hardware_pipettes[OT3Mount.RIGHT.to_mount()]
+        assert _pip
         _pip_id = helpers_ot3.get_pipette_serial_ot3(_pip)
         _id = f" ({_pip_id})"
     elif subsystem == SubSystem.pipette_left:
         _pip = api.hardware_pipettes[OT3Mount.LEFT.to_mount()]
+        assert _pip
         _pip_id = helpers_ot3.get_pipette_serial_ot3(_pip)
         _id = f" ({_pip_id})"
     elif subsystem == SubSystem.gripper:
@@ -32,7 +34,6 @@ def _get_instrument_serial_number(api: OT3API, subsystem: SubSystem) -> str:
 async def _main(simulate: bool, subsystems: List[SubSystem]) -> None:
     api = await helpers_ot3.build_async_ot3_hardware_api(is_simulating=simulate)
     while True:
-        await api.cache_instruments()
         for subsys, state in api.attached_subsystems.items():
             _id = _get_instrument_serial_number(api, subsys)
             print(f" - v{state.current_fw_version}: {subsys.name}{_id}")
@@ -42,8 +43,7 @@ async def _main(simulate: bool, subsystems: List[SubSystem]) -> None:
         print("done")
         if api.is_simulator:
             break
-        else:
-            await sleep(1)
+        await helpers_ot3.reset_api(api)
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
diff --git a/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/production_qc/pipette_assembly_qc_ot3/__main__.py b/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/production_qc/pipette_assembly_qc_ot3/__main__.py
index 9788332f1aa..ce2e9fd21fe 100644
--- a/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/production_qc/pipette_assembly_qc_ot3/__main__.py
+++ b/hardware-testing/hardware_testing/production_qc/pipette_assembly_qc_ot3/__main__.py
@@ -1294,7 +1294,7 @@ def _listener(message: MessageDefinition, arb_id: ArbitrationId) -> None:
     return test_pass
 
 
-async def _main(test_config: TestConfig) -> None:
+async def _main(test_config: TestConfig) -> None:  # noqa: C901
     global IDEAL_LABWARE_LOCATIONS
     global CALIBRATED_LABWARE_LOCATIONS
     global FINAL_TEST_RESULTS
@@ -1567,9 +1567,7 @@ async def _main(test_config: TestConfig) -> None:
     arg_parser.add_argument(
         "--slot-reservoir", type=int, default=DEFAULT_SLOT_RESERVOIR
     )
-    arg_parser.add_argument(
-        "--slot-plate", type=int, default=DEFAULT_SLOT_PLATE
-    )
+    arg_parser.add_argument("--slot-plate", type=int, default=DEFAULT_SLOT_PLATE)
     arg_parser.add_argument("--slot-fixture", type=int, default=DEFAULT_SLOT_FIXTURE)
     arg_parser.add_argument("--slot-trash", type=int, default=DEFAULT_SLOT_TRASH)
     arg_parser.add_argument("--simulate", action="store_true")