diff --git a/lib/rc/rc.go b/lib/rc/rc.go
index 446f9103e..7e0fd7fc4 100644
--- a/lib/rc/rc.go
+++ b/lib/rc/rc.go
@@ -281,6 +281,16 @@ func (p *Process) PostConfig(cfg config.Configuration) error {
 	return err
 }
 
+func (p *Process) PauseDevice(dev protocol.DeviceID) error {
+	_, err := p.Post("/rest/system/pause?device="+dev.String(), nil)
+	return err
+}
+
+func (p *Process) ResumeDevice(dev protocol.DeviceID) error {
+	_, err := p.Post("/rest/system/resume?device="+dev.String(), nil)
+	return err
+}
+
 func InSync(folder string, ps ...*Process) bool {
 	for _, p := range ps {
 		p.eventMut.Lock()
diff --git a/test/conflict_test.go b/test/conflict_test.go
index 23001fabc..1091524ca 100644
--- a/test/conflict_test.go
+++ b/test/conflict_test.go
@@ -80,6 +80,10 @@ func TestConflictsDefault(t *testing.T) {
 
 	log.Println("Introducing a conflict (simultaneous edit)...")
 
+	if err := sender.PauseDevice(receiver.ID()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	fd, err = os.OpenFile("s1/testfile.txt", os.O_WRONLY|os.O_APPEND, 0644)
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -106,6 +110,10 @@ func TestConflictsDefault(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	if err := sender.ResumeDevice(receiver.ID()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	log.Println("Syncing...")
 
 	if err := sender.RescanDelay("default", 86400); err != nil {
@@ -129,6 +137,10 @@ func TestConflictsDefault(t *testing.T) {
 
 	log.Println("Introducing a conflict (edit plus delete)...")
 
+	if err := sender.PauseDevice(receiver.ID()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	err = os.Remove("s1/testfile.txt")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -147,6 +159,10 @@ func TestConflictsDefault(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
+	if err := sender.ResumeDevice(receiver.ID()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+
 	log.Println("Syncing...")
 
 	if err := sender.RescanDelay("default", 86400); err != nil {