diff --git a/examples/bindataformpost/bindataformpost.zig b/examples/bindataformpost/bindataformpost.zig
index 4455d2a..1facccf 100644
--- a/examples/bindataformpost/bindataformpost.zig
+++ b/examples/bindataformpost/bindataformpost.zig
@@ -110,6 +110,6 @@ pub fn main() !void {
 
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 }
diff --git a/examples/cookies/cookies.zig b/examples/cookies/cookies.zig
index f716151..55ecf22 100644
--- a/examples/cookies/cookies.zig
+++ b/examples/cookies/cookies.zig
@@ -115,6 +115,6 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     defer thread.join();
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 }
diff --git a/examples/http_params/http_params.zig b/examples/http_params/http_params.zig
index 9508d03..4095b98 100644
--- a/examples/http_params/http_params.zig
+++ b/examples/http_params/http_params.zig
@@ -115,6 +115,6 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     defer thread.join();
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 }
diff --git a/examples/sendfile/sendfile.zig b/examples/sendfile/sendfile.zig
index daf16dd..b7099e7 100644
--- a/examples/sendfile/sendfile.zig
+++ b/examples/sendfile/sendfile.zig
@@ -44,6 +44,6 @@ pub fn main() !void {
 
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 }
diff --git a/src/tests/test_auth.zig b/src/tests/test_auth.zig
index 72758d2..a7b0d55 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_auth.zig
+++ b/src/tests/test_auth.zig
@@ -152,11 +152,19 @@ fn makeRequest(a: std.mem.Allocator, url: []const u8, auth: ?ClientAuthReqHeader
 
     try req.send(.{});
     try req.wait();
-    // var br = std.io.bufferedReaderSize(std.crypto.tls.max_ciphertext_record_len, req.reader());
-    // var buffer: [1024]u8 = undefined;
-    // we know we won't receive a lot
-    // const len = try br.reader().readAll(&buffer);
-    // std.debug.print("RESPONSE:\n{s}\n", .{buffer[0..len]});
+    // req.deinit() panics!
+    // defer req.deinit();
+
+    // without this block, the tests sometimes get stuck which
+    // might have to do with connection pooling and connections being in
+    // a different state when all data has been read?!?
+    {
+        var buffer: [1024]u8 = undefined;
+        // we know we won't receive a lot
+        const len = try req.reader().readAll(&buffer);
+        std.debug.print("RESPONSE:\n{s}\n", .{buffer[0..len]});
+    }
+
     zap.fio_stop();
 }
 
@@ -215,7 +223,7 @@ test "BearerAuthSingle authenticateRequest OK" {
     // start worker threads
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     try std.testing.expectEqualStrings(HTTP_RESPONSE, received_response);
@@ -272,7 +280,7 @@ test "BearerAuthSingle authenticateRequest test-unauthorized" {
     // start worker threads
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     try std.testing.expectEqualStrings("UNAUTHORIZED", received_response);
@@ -323,7 +331,7 @@ test "BearerAuthMulti authenticateRequest OK" {
     // start worker threads
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     try std.testing.expectEqualStrings(HTTP_RESPONSE, received_response);
@@ -374,7 +382,7 @@ test "BearerAuthMulti authenticateRequest test-unauthorized" {
     // start worker threads
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     try std.testing.expectEqualStrings(HTTP_RESPONSE, received_response);
@@ -430,7 +438,7 @@ test "BasicAuth Token68 authenticateRequest" {
     // start worker threads
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     try std.testing.expectEqualStrings(HTTP_RESPONSE, received_response);
@@ -486,7 +494,7 @@ test "BasicAuth Token68 authenticateRequest test-unauthorized" {
     // start worker threads
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     try std.testing.expectEqualStrings("UNAUTHORIZED", received_response);
@@ -552,7 +560,7 @@ test "BasicAuth UserPass authenticateRequest" {
     // start worker threads
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     try std.testing.expectEqualStrings(HTTP_RESPONSE, received_response);
@@ -619,7 +627,7 @@ test "BasicAuth UserPass authenticateRequest test-unauthorized" {
     // start worker threads
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     try std.testing.expectEqualStrings("UNAUTHORIZED", received_response);
diff --git a/src/tests/test_http_params.zig b/src/tests/test_http_params.zig
index aa21023..c22b57f 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_http_params.zig
+++ b/src/tests/test_http_params.zig
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ test "http parameters" {
     defer thread.join();
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     defer {
diff --git a/src/tests/test_sendfile.zig b/src/tests/test_sendfile.zig
index 12a15fe..95f49fc 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_sendfile.zig
+++ b/src/tests/test_sendfile.zig
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ test "send file" {
     defer thread.join();
     zap.start(.{
         .threads = 1,
-        .workers = 0,
+        .workers = 1,
     });
 
     if (read_len) |rl| {