diff --git a/packages/kbn-es/src/utils/native_realm.js b/packages/kbn-es/src/utils/native_realm.js
index 086898abb6b67..f3f5f7bbdf431 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-es/src/utils/native_realm.js
+++ b/packages/kbn-es/src/utils/native_realm.js
@@ -76,10 +76,6 @@ exports.NativeRealm = class NativeRealm {
     }
 
     const reservedUsers = await this.getReservedUsers();
-    if (!reservedUsers || reservedUsers.length < 1) {
-      throw new Error('no reserved users found, unable to set native realm passwords');
-    }
-
     await Promise.all(
       reservedUsers.map(async user => {
         await this.setPassword(user, options[`password.${user}`]);
@@ -88,16 +84,18 @@ exports.NativeRealm = class NativeRealm {
   }
 
   async getReservedUsers() {
-    const users = await this._autoRetry(async () => {
-      return await this._client.security.getUser();
-    });
+    return await this._autoRetry(async () => {
+      const resp = await this._client.security.getUser();
+      const usernames = Object.keys(resp.body).filter(
+        user => resp.body[user].metadata._reserved === true
+      );
 
-    return Object.keys(users.body).reduce((acc, user) => {
-      if (users.body[user].metadata._reserved === true) {
-        acc.push(user);
+      if (!usernames?.length) {
+        throw new Error('no reserved users found, unable to set native realm passwords');
       }
-      return acc;
-    }, []);
+
+      return usernames;
+    });
   }
 
   async isSecurityEnabled() {
@@ -125,10 +123,9 @@ exports.NativeRealm = class NativeRealm {
         throw error;
       }
 
-      this._log.warning(
-        'assuming [elastic] user not available yet, waiting 1.5 seconds and trying again'
-      );
-      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 1500));
+      const sec = 1.5 * attempt;
+      this._log.warning(`assuming ES isn't initialized completely, trying again in ${sec} seconds`);
+      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, sec * 1000));
       return await this._autoRetry(fn, attempt + 1);
     }
   }
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/dashboard/_async_dashboard.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/dashboard/_async_dashboard.ts
index 46760a84e8a37..2574617eb5aa3 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/dashboard/_async_dashboard.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/dashboard/_async_dashboard.ts
@@ -26,8 +26,7 @@ export default function({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
     'timePicker',
   ]);
 
-  // FLAKY: https://github.com/elastic/kibana/issues/65949
-  describe.skip('sample data dashboard', function describeIndexTests() {
+  describe('sample data dashboard', function describeIndexTests() {
     before(async () => {
       await PageObjects.common.sleep(5000);
       await PageObjects.common.navigateToUrl('home', '/tutorial_directory/sampleData', {
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional_endpoint/apps/endpoint/policy_list.ts b/x-pack/test/functional_endpoint/apps/endpoint/policy_list.ts
index 28a7cbd2e3c30..c94c623e97279 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional_endpoint/apps/endpoint/policy_list.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional_endpoint/apps/endpoint/policy_list.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ export default function({ getPageObjects, getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
   const policyTestResources = getService('policyTestResources');
 
-  describe('When on the Endpoint Policy List', function() {
+  // FLAKY: https://github.com/elastic/kibana/issues/66579
+  describe.skip('When on the Endpoint Policy List', function() {
     this.tags(['ciGroup7']);
     before(async () => {
       await pageObjects.common.navigateToUrlWithBrowserHistory('endpoint', '/policy');
@@ -46,7 +47,7 @@ export default function({ getPageObjects, getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
       expect(noItemsFoundMessage).to.equal('No items found');
     });
 
-    describe('and policies exists', () => {
+    xdescribe('and policies exists', () => {
       let policyInfo: PolicyTestResourceInfo;
 
       before(async () => {