diff --git a/internal/integration/api/apply-config.go b/internal/integration/api/apply-config.go
index 307462bf9..2d344f26c 100644
--- a/internal/integration/api/apply-config.go
+++ b/internal/integration/api/apply-config.go
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"github.com/cosi-project/runtime/pkg/resource/rtestutils"
-	"github.com/cosi-project/runtime/pkg/safe"
 	"github.com/siderolabs/gen/ensure"
 	"github.com/siderolabs/gen/xslices"
 	"github.com/siderolabs/go-pointer"
@@ -561,19 +560,10 @@ func (suite *ApplyConfigSuite) TestApplyTry() {
 	suite.ClearConnectionRefused(suite.ctx, node)
 	nodeCtx := client.WithNode(suite.ctx, node)
 
-	getMachineConfig := func(ctx context.Context) (*mc.MachineConfig, error) {
-		cfg, err := safe.StateGetByID[*mc.MachineConfig](ctx, suite.Client.COSI, mc.ActiveID)
-		if err != nil {
-			return nil, err
-		}
-
-		return cfg, nil
-	}
-
-	provider, err := getMachineConfig(nodeCtx)
+	provider, err := suite.ReadConfigFromNode(nodeCtx)
 	suite.Require().NoErrorf(err, "failed to read existing config from node %q: %s", node, err)
 
-	cfgDataOut := suite.PatchV1Alpha1Config(provider.Provider(), func(cfg *v1alpha1.Config) {
+	cfgDataOut := suite.PatchV1Alpha1Config(provider, func(cfg *v1alpha1.Config) {
 		if cfg.MachineConfig.MachineNetwork == nil {
 			cfg.MachineConfig.MachineNetwork = &v1alpha1.NetworkConfig{}
 		}
@@ -595,14 +585,22 @@ func (suite *ApplyConfigSuite) TestApplyTry() {
 	)
 	suite.Assert().NoErrorf(err, "failed to apply configuration (node %q)", node)
 
-	provider, err = getMachineConfig(nodeCtx)
+	provider, err = suite.ReadConfigFromNode(nodeCtx)
 	suite.Require().NoErrorf(err, "failed to read existing config from node %q", node)
 
-	suite.Assert().NotNil(provider.Config().Machine().Network())
-	suite.Assert().NotNil(provider.Config().Machine().Network().Devices())
+	suite.Assert().NotNil(provider.Machine().Network())
+	suite.Assert().NotNil(provider.Machine().Network().Devices())
 
-	lookupDummyInterface := func() bool {
-		for _, device := range provider.Config().Machine().Network().Devices() {
+	assertDummyInterface := func(provider config.Provider) bool {
+		if provider.Machine().Network() == nil {
+			return false
+		}
+
+		if provider.Machine().Network().Devices() == nil {
+			return false
+		}
+
+		for _, device := range provider.Machine().Network().Devices() {
 			if device.Dummy() && device.Interface() == "dummy0" {
 				return true
 			}
@@ -611,24 +609,11 @@ func (suite *ApplyConfigSuite) TestApplyTry() {
 		return false
 	}
 
-	suite.Assert().Truef(lookupDummyInterface(), "dummy interface wasn't found")
+	suite.Assert().Truef(assertDummyInterface(provider), "dummy interface wasn't found")
 
-	for range 100 {
-		provider, err = getMachineConfig(nodeCtx)
-		suite.Assert().NoErrorf(err, "failed to read existing config from node %q: %s", node, err)
-
-		if provider.Config().Machine().Network() == nil {
-			return
-		}
-
-		if !lookupDummyInterface() {
-			return
-		}
-
-		time.Sleep(time.Millisecond * 100)
-	}
-
-	suite.Fail("dummy interface wasn't removed after config try timeout")
+	rtestutils.AssertResource(nodeCtx, suite.T(), suite.Client.COSI, mc.ActiveID, func(r *mc.MachineConfig, asrt *assert.Assertions) {
+		asrt.False(assertDummyInterface(r.Provider()))
+	})
 }
 
 // TestApplyRemovingV1Alpha1 verifies the apply config doesn't accept removal of v1alpha1 config.
diff --git a/internal/integration/api/update-hostname.go b/internal/integration/api/update-hostname.go
index aca30b37e..87e5cf635 100644
--- a/internal/integration/api/update-hostname.go
+++ b/internal/integration/api/update-hostname.go
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ func (suite *UpdateHostnameSuite) TestUpdateHostname() {
 	suite.T().Logf("updating hostname of node %q to %q (IP: %s)", oldHostname, newHostname, nodeInternalIP)
 
 	suite.updateHostname(nodeCtx, newHostname)
+	suite.ClearConnectionRefused(suite.ctx, nodeInternalIP)
 
 	nodeReady := func(status corev1.ConditionStatus) bool {
 		return status == corev1.ConditionTrue
@@ -136,11 +137,31 @@ func (suite *UpdateHostnameSuite) TestUpdateHostname() {
 }
 
 func (suite *UpdateHostnameSuite) updateHostname(nodeCtx context.Context, newHostname string) {
+	// [TODO]: this should be dropped once Terraform Provider is updated for Talos 1.12
+	// do a negative patch removing v1alpha1 hostname-related config
+	// In "normal" tests config is generated without hostname v1alpha1 parts,
+	// but when the cluster is generated via Terraform, it uses outdated machinery and
+	// generates config with v1alpha1 hostname parts.
+	v1alpha1Drop := map[string]any{
+		"machine": map[string]any{
+			"network": map[string]any{
+				"hostname": map[string]any{
+					"$patch": "delete",
+				},
+			},
+			"features": map[string]any{
+				"stableHostname": map[string]any{
+					"$patch": "delete",
+				},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+
 	hostnameConfig := network.NewHostnameConfigV1Alpha1()
 	hostnameConfig.ConfigAuto = pointer.To(nethelpers.AutoHostnameKindOff)
 	hostnameConfig.ConfigHostname = newHostname
 
-	suite.PatchMachineConfig(nodeCtx, hostnameConfig)
+	suite.PatchMachineConfig(nodeCtx, v1alpha1Drop, hostnameConfig)
 }
 
 func init() {