diff --git a/hw/top_earlgrey/dv/env/chip_if.sv b/hw/top_earlgrey/dv/env/chip_if.sv
index cfba708578bab..252da1b18e4a3 100644
--- a/hw/top_earlgrey/dv/env/chip_if.sv
+++ b/hw/top_earlgrey/dv/env/chip_if.sv
@@ -706,11 +706,17 @@ interface chip_if;
     release `AST_HIER.adc_d_o;
   endtask
 
+  // This task triggers a wakeup by forcing an incoming alert from AST to sensor_ctrl.
+  // It should be used when the device is in sleep mode, and the alert will be cleared by
+  // sensor_ctrl alert ack output.
   task static trigger_sensor_ctrl_wkup();
-    `uvm_info(MsgId, "forcing sensor_ctrl ast_alert_i to 1", UVM_MEDIUM)
+    `uvm_info(MsgId, "forcing sensor_ctrl ast_alert_i[0] to 1", UVM_MEDIUM)
     force `SENSOR_CTRL_HIER.ast_alert_i.alerts[0].p = 1'b1;
-    #100us;
-    `uvm_info(MsgId, "releasing sensor_ctrl ast_alert_i", UVM_MEDIUM)
+    // Release the alert when an ack cycle is done, so wait for ack to rise
+    // and release when it falls, with a timeout of 20 micro seconds.
+    `DV_WAIT(`SENSOR_CTRL_HIER.ast_alert_o.alerts_ack[0].p == 1'b1, , 20_000_000, "chip_if")
+    `uvm_info(MsgId, "releasing sensor_ctrl ast_alert_i[0]", UVM_MEDIUM)
+    @(posedge `SENSOR_CTRL_HIER.clk_i);
     release `SENSOR_CTRL_HIER.ast_alert_i.alerts[0].p;
   endtask
 
diff --git a/sw/device/tests/pwrmgr_sensor_ctrl_deep_sleep_wake_up.c b/sw/device/tests/pwrmgr_sensor_ctrl_deep_sleep_wake_up.c
index 0072785c969ce..aaa3d2e2adae2 100644
--- a/sw/device/tests/pwrmgr_sensor_ctrl_deep_sleep_wake_up.c
+++ b/sw/device/tests/pwrmgr_sensor_ctrl_deep_sleep_wake_up.c
@@ -28,9 +28,16 @@ OTTF_DEFINE_TEST_CONFIG();
 /**
  * Clean up pwrmgr wakeup reason register for the next round.
  */
-static void delay_n_clear(uint32_t delay_in_us) {
-  busy_spin_micros(delay_in_us);
-  CHECK_DIF_OK(dif_pwrmgr_wakeup_reason_clear(&pwrmgr));
+static bool pwrmgr_wake_status_is_clear(void) {
+  dif_pwrmgr_request_sources_t sources;
+  CHECK_DIF_OK(dif_pwrmgr_get_current_request_sources(
+      &pwrmgr, kDifPwrmgrReqTypeWakeup, &sources));
+  return sources == 0;
+}
+
+static status_t wait_for_pwrmgr_wake_status_is_clear(void) {
+  IBEX_TRY_SPIN_FOR(pwrmgr_wake_status_is_clear(), 20);
+  return OK_STATUS();
 }
 
 bool test_main(void) {
@@ -54,27 +61,34 @@ bool test_main(void) {
   if (wakeup_reason.request_sources == 0) {
     // This is a POR. Prepare to start the test.
     CHECK_DIF_OK(dif_pwrmgr_wakeup_reason_clear(&pwrmgr));
+    CHECK_DIF_OK(dif_pwrmgr_wakeup_request_recording_set_enabled(
+        &pwrmgr, kDifToggleEnabled));
+
+    CHECK_DIF_OK(dif_pwrmgr_get_domain_config(&pwrmgr, &cfg));
+    cfg &= (kDifPwrmgrDomainOptionIoClockInLowPower |
+            kDifPwrmgrDomainOptionUsbClockInLowPower |
+            kDifPwrmgrDomainOptionUsbClockInActivePower);
+    CHECK_STATUS_OK(pwrmgr_testutils_enable_low_power(
+        &pwrmgr, kDifPwrmgrWakeupRequestSourceSix, cfg));
+    LOG_INFO("Issue WFI to enter sensor_ctrl sleep");
+    wait_for_interrupt();
+
+    // This is not reachable.
+    return false;
   } else if (wakeup_reason.types != kDifPwrmgrWakeupTypeRequest) {
     LOG_ERROR("Unexpected wakeup_reason.types 0x%x", wakeup_reason.types);
     return false;
   } else {
-    // This is a reset from deep_sleep wakeup. Run checks.
-    check_wakeup_reason(5);
+    // This is a reset from deep_sleep due to sensor_ctrl wakeup.
     LOG_INFO("Woke up by sensor_ctrl");
-    clear_wakeup(PWRMGR_PARAM_SENSOR_CTRL_AON_WKUP_REQ_IDX);
+    dif_sensor_ctrl_events_t events;
+    CHECK(!pwrmgr_wake_status_is_clear(), "Expected wake_status to be set");
+    CHECK_DIF_OK(dif_sensor_ctrl_get_recov_events(&sensor_ctrl, &events));
+    CHECK(events == 1, "Expected bit 0 to be set");
+    CHECK_DIF_OK(dif_sensor_ctrl_clear_recov_event(&sensor_ctrl, 0));
+    CHECK_DIF_OK(dif_sensor_ctrl_get_recov_events(&sensor_ctrl, &events));
+    CHECK(events == 0, "Expected recoverable events to clear");
+    CHECK_STATUS_OK(wait_for_pwrmgr_wake_status_is_clear(), 20);
     return true;
   }
-
-  delay_n_clear(4);
-  CHECK_DIF_OK(dif_pwrmgr_get_domain_config(&pwrmgr, &cfg));
-  cfg &= (kDifPwrmgrDomainOptionIoClockInLowPower |
-          kDifPwrmgrDomainOptionUsbClockInLowPower |
-          kDifPwrmgrDomainOptionUsbClockInActivePower);
-  CHECK_STATUS_OK(pwrmgr_testutils_enable_low_power(
-      &pwrmgr, kDifPwrmgrWakeupRequestSourceSix, cfg));
-  LOG_INFO("Issue WFI to enter sensor_ctrl sleep");
-  wait_for_interrupt();
-
-  // This is not reachable.
-  return false;
 }