diff --git a/controllers/k8ssandra/medusa_reconciler_test.go b/controllers/k8ssandra/medusa_reconciler_test.go
index fe5d94c64..a534d6281 100644
--- a/controllers/k8ssandra/medusa_reconciler_test.go
+++ b/controllers/k8ssandra/medusa_reconciler_test.go
@@ -246,20 +246,9 @@ func createMultiDcClusterWithMedusa(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, f *framew
 	require.True(err != nil && errors.IsNotFound(err), "dc2 should not be created until dc1 is ready")
 
 	t.Log("update dc1 status to ready")
-	err = f.PatchDatacenterStatus(ctx, dc1Key, func(dc *cassdcapi.CassandraDatacenter) {
-		dc.Status.CassandraOperatorProgress = cassdcapi.ProgressReady
-		dc.SetCondition(cassdcapi.DatacenterCondition{
-			Type:               cassdcapi.DatacenterReady,
-			Status:             corev1.ConditionTrue,
-			LastTransitionTime: metav1.Now(),
-		})
-	})
+	err = f.SetDatacenterStatusReady(ctx, dc1Key)
 	require.NoError(err, "failed to update dc1 status to ready")
 
-	require.Eventually(func() bool {
-		return f.UpdateDatacenterGeneration(ctx, t, dc1Key)
-	}, timeout, interval, "failed to update dc1 generation")
-
 	reconcileMedusaStandaloneDeployment(ctx, t, f, kc, "dc2", f.DataPlaneContexts[1])
 	t.Log("check that dc2 was created")
 	require.Eventually(f.DatacenterExists(ctx, dc2Key), timeout, interval)
@@ -290,20 +279,11 @@ func createMultiDcClusterWithMedusa(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, f *framew
 	require.NoError(err, "failed to get dc2")
 
 	t.Log("update dc2 status to ready")
-	err = f.PatchDatacenterStatus(ctx, dc2Key, func(dc *cassdcapi.CassandraDatacenter) {
-		dc.Status.CassandraOperatorProgress = cassdcapi.ProgressReady
-		dc.SetCondition(cassdcapi.DatacenterCondition{
-			Type:               cassdcapi.DatacenterReady,
-			Status:             corev1.ConditionTrue,
-			LastTransitionTime: metav1.Now(),
-		})
-	})
+	if err = f.SetDatacenterStatusReady(ctx, dc2Key); err != nil {
+		assert.Fail(t, "error setting status ready", err)
+	}
 	require.NoError(err, "failed to update dc2 status to ready")
 
-	require.Eventually(func() bool {
-		return f.UpdateDatacenterGeneration(ctx, t, dc2Key)
-	}, timeout, interval, "failed to update dc2 generation")
-
 	t.Log("check that dc2 was rebuilt")
 	verifyRebuildTaskCreated(ctx, t, f, dc2Key, dc1Key)
 	rebuildTaskKey := framework.NewClusterKey(f.DataPlaneContexts[1], kc.Namespace, "dc2-rebuild")
diff --git a/test/framework/framework.go b/test/framework/framework.go
index 275788484..1f56cc6a1 100644
--- a/test/framework/framework.go
+++ b/test/framework/framework.go
@@ -298,6 +298,13 @@ func (f *Framework) SetDatacenterStatusReady(ctx context.Context, key ClusterKey
 			LastTransitionTime: now,
 		})
 		dc.Status.ObservedGeneration = dc.Generation
+		dc.Status.NodeStatuses = cassdcapi.CassandraStatusMap{}
+		for i := 0; i < int(dc.Spec.Size); i++ {
+			dc.Status.NodeStatuses[fmt.Sprintf("node%d", i)] = cassdcapi.CassandraNodeStatus{
+				HostID: fmt.Sprintf("host%d", i),
+			}
+
+		}
 	})
 }