diff --git a/tests/guest-tools/win/__init__.py b/tests/guest-tools/win/__init__.py
index 412f04b9..ae04203c 100644
--- a/tests/guest-tools/win/__init__.py
+++ b/tests/guest-tools/win/__init__.py
@@ -38,20 +38,16 @@ def encode_ps_command(cmd: str):
 
 
 def is_drivers_installed(vm: VM):
+    cmd = encode_ps_command(
+        r"""
+        $ProgressPreference = 'SilentlyContinue';
+        Get-PnpDevice -PresentOnly |
+        Where-Object CompatibleID -icontains 'PCI\VEN_5853' |
+        Select-Object -ExpandProperty Problem
+        """
+    )
     output = vm.ssh(
-        [
-            "powershell.exe",
-            "-noprofile",
-            "-noninteractive",
-            "-encodedcommand",
-            encode_ps_command(
-                r"""
-                Get-PnpDevice -PresentOnly |
-                Where-Object CompatibleID -icontains 'PCI\VEN_5853' |
-                Select-Object -ExpandProperty Problem
-                """
-            ),
-        ]
+        ["powershell.exe", "-noprofile", "-noninteractive", "-encodedcommand", cmd]
     )
     logging.debug(f"Installed Xen device status: {output}")
     if output == "CM_PROB_NONE":
@@ -69,8 +65,14 @@ def run_command_powershell(vm: VM, program: str, args: List[str]):
     Backslash-safe.
     """
     args = " ".join(args)
-    # ProgressPreference is needed to suppress any cli\xml progress output as it's not filtered away from stdout by default, and we're grabbing stdout
-    cmd = f"$ProgressPreference = 'SilentlyContinue'; Write-Output (Start-Process -Wait -PassThru {program} -ArgumentList '{args}').ExitCode"
+    # ProgressPreference is needed to suppress any cli\xml progress output
+    # as it's not filtered away from stdout by default, and we're grabbing stdout
+    cmd = encode_ps_command(
+        f"""
+        $ProgressPreference = 'SilentlyContinue';
+        Write-Output (Start-Process -Wait -PassThru {program} -ArgumentList '{args}').ExitCode
+        """
+    )
     return int(
         vm.ssh(
             [
@@ -79,7 +81,7 @@ def run_command_powershell(vm: VM, program: str, args: List[str]):
                 "-noprofile",
                 "-noninteractive",
                 "-encodedcommand",
-                encode_ps_command(cmd),
+                cmd,
             ]
         )
     )
@@ -91,7 +93,15 @@ def start_background_powershell(vm: VM, cmd: str):
 
     Backslash-safe.
     """
-    async_cmd = f"\\'powershell.exe -noprofile -noninteractive -encodedcommand {encode_ps_command(cmd)}\\'"
+    async_cmd = " ".join(
+        [
+            "powershell.exe",
+            "-noprofile",
+            "-noninteractive",
+            "-encodedcommand",
+            encode_ps_command(cmd),
+        ]
+    )
     vm.ssh(
         [
             "powershell.exe",
@@ -103,7 +113,7 @@ def start_background_powershell(vm: VM, cmd: str):
             "-Name",
             "Create",
             "-ArgumentList",
-            async_cmd,
+            f"\\'{async_cmd}\\'",
         ],
     )
 
diff --git a/tests/guest-tools/win/test_guest_tools_win.py b/tests/guest-tools/win/test_guest_tools_win.py
index 0ea98fda..6a268780 100644
--- a/tests/guest-tools/win/test_guest_tools_win.py
+++ b/tests/guest-tools/win/test_guest_tools_win.py
@@ -162,16 +162,48 @@ def running_windows_vm(imported_vm: VM) -> VM:
     # no teardown
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(scope="module")
+def vm_prepared(running_windows_vm: VM):
+    """Unseal VM and get its IP, then shut it down. Cache the unsealed state in a snapshot to save time."""
+    vm = running_windows_vm
+    # vm shutdown is not usable yet (there's no tools)
+    vm.ssh(
+        [
+            "powershell.exe",
+            "-noprofile",
+            "-noninteractive",
+            "Stop-Computer",
+            "-Force",
+        ]
+    )
+    wait_for(vm.is_halted, "Shutdown VM")
+    snapshot = vm.snapshot()
+    yield (vm, snapshot)
+    snapshot.destroy(verify=True)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def vm_instance(vm_prepared: tuple[VM, Snapshot]):
+    (vm, snapshot) = vm_prepared
+    vm.start()
+    wait_for_guest_start(vm)
+    yield vm
+    snapshot.revert()
+
+
 @pytest.mark.multi_vms
 @pytest.mark.usefixtures("windows_vm")
 class TestGuestToolsWindows:
     @pytest.fixture(scope="class")
-    def vm_install(self, running_windows_vm):
-        vm = running_windows_vm
+    def vm_install(self, vm_prepared):
+        (vm, snapshot) = vm_prepared
+        vm.start()
+        wait_for_guest_start(vm)
         install_tools_noreboot(vm)
         vm.reboot()
         wait_for_guest_start(vm)
-        return vm
+        yield vm
+        snapshot.revert()
 
     def test_tools_after_reboot(self, vm_install: VM):
         vm = vm_install
@@ -185,33 +217,6 @@ def test_drivers_detected(self, vm_install: VM):
 @pytest.mark.multi_vms
 @pytest.mark.usefixtures("windows_vm")
 class TestGuestToolsWindowsDestructive:
-    @pytest.fixture(scope="class")
-    def vm_prepared(self, running_windows_vm: VM):
-        """Unseal VM and get its IP, then shut it down. Cache the unsealed state in a snapshot to save time."""
-        vm = running_windows_vm
-        # vm shutdown is not usable yet (there's no tools)
-        vm.ssh(
-            [
-                "powershell.exe",
-                "-noprofile",
-                "-noninteractive",
-                "Stop-Computer",
-                "-Force",
-            ]
-        )
-        wait_for(vm.is_halted, "Shutdown VM")
-        snapshot = vm.snapshot()
-        yield (vm, snapshot)
-        snapshot.destroy(verify=True)
-
-    @pytest.fixture
-    def vm_instance(self, vm_prepared: tuple[VM, Snapshot]):
-        (vm, snapshot) = vm_prepared
-        vm.start()
-        wait_for_guest_start(vm)
-        yield vm
-        snapshot.revert()
-
     @pytest.fixture
     def vm_install(self, vm_instance: VM):
         install_tools_noreboot(vm_instance)