diff --git a/zombienet/helpers/wait-hrmp-channel-opened.js b/zombienet/helpers/wait-hrmp-channel-opened.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..e700cab1d7481
--- /dev/null
+++ b/zombienet/helpers/wait-hrmp-channel-opened.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+async function run(nodeName, networkInfo, args) {
+    const {wsUri, userDefinedTypes} = networkInfo.nodesByName[nodeName];
+    const api = await zombie.connect(wsUri, userDefinedTypes);
+
+    const sibling = args[0];
+
+    while (true) {
+        const messagingStateAsObj = await api.query.parachainSystem.relevantMessagingState();
+        const messagingState = api.createType("Option<CumulusPalletParachainSystemRelayStateSnapshotMessagingStateSnapshot>", messagingStateAsObj);
+        if (messagingState.isSome) {
+            const egressChannels = messagingState.unwrap().egressChannels;
+            if (egressChannels.find(x => x[0] == sibling)) {
+                return;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // else sleep and retry
+        await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 12000));
+    }
+}
+
+module.exports = { run }
diff --git a/zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-rococo-to-westend.zndsl b/zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-rococo-to-westend.zndsl
index cacef088f4272..cbc0e31cacf10 100644
--- a/zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-rococo-to-westend.zndsl
+++ b/zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-rococo-to-westend.zndsl
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Creds: config
 
 # step 1: initialize Westend asset hub
 asset-hub-westend-collator1: run ../scripts/invoke-script.sh with "init-asset-hub-westend-local" within 120 seconds
+asset-hub-westend-collator1: js-script ../helpers/wait-hrmp-channel-opened.js with "1002" within 400 seconds
 
 # step 2: initialize Westend bridge hub
 bridge-hub-westend-collator1: run ../scripts/invoke-script.sh with "init-bridge-hub-westend-local" within 120 seconds
diff --git a/zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-wococo-to-westend.zndsl b/zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-westend-to-rococo.zndsl
similarity index 94%
rename from zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-wococo-to-westend.zndsl
rename to zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-westend-to-rococo.zndsl
index be3927433e118..84c326e94ec03 100644
--- a/zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-wococo-to-westend.zndsl
+++ b/zombienet/tests/0001-asset-transfer-works-westend-to-rococo.zndsl
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ Creds: config
 
 # step 1: initialize Rococo asset hub
 asset-hub-rococo-collator1: run ../scripts/invoke-script.sh with "init-asset-hub-rococo-local" within 120 seconds
+asset-hub-rococo-collator1: js-script ../helpers/wait-hrmp-channel-opened.js with "1013" within 400 seconds
 
 # step 2: initialize Rococo bridge hub
 bridge-hub-rococo-collator1: run ../scripts/invoke-script.sh with "init-bridge-hub-rococo-local" within 120 seconds