diff --git a/pkg/canary/config_tracker_test.go b/pkg/canary/config_tracker_test.go
index c8d017a65..e5f1affbf 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/config_tracker_test.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/config_tracker_test.go
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ func TestConfigTracker_ConfigMaps(t *testing.T) {
 		configMap := newDeploymentControllerTestConfigMap()
 		configMapProjected := newDeploymentControllerTestConfigProjected()
 
-		err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
+		mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
 		depPrimary, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 		require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -53,7 +52,7 @@ func TestConfigTracker_ConfigMaps(t *testing.T) {
 		configMap := newDaemonSetControllerTestConfigMap()
 		configMapProjected := newDaemonSetControllerTestConfigProjected()
 
-		err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+		err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		depPrimary, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().DaemonSets("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -93,8 +92,7 @@ func TestConfigTracker_Secrets(t *testing.T) {
 		secret := newDeploymentControllerTestSecret()
 		secretProjected := newDeploymentControllerTestSecretProjected()
 
-		err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
+		mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
 		depPrimary, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 		if assert.NoError(t, err) {
@@ -131,8 +129,7 @@ func TestConfigTracker_Secrets(t *testing.T) {
 		secret := newDaemonSetControllerTestSecret()
 		secretProjected := newDaemonSetControllerTestSecretProjected()
 
-		err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-		require.NoError(t, err)
+		mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 
 		daePrimary, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().DaemonSets("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 		if assert.NoError(t, err) {
diff --git a/pkg/canary/controller.go b/pkg/canary/controller.go
index 635f1af10..988369916 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/controller.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/controller.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ type Controller interface {
 	SetStatusWeight(canary *flaggerv1.Canary, val int) error
 	SetStatusIterations(canary *flaggerv1.Canary, val int) error
 	SetStatusPhase(canary *flaggerv1.Canary, phase flaggerv1.CanaryPhase) error
-	Initialize(canary *flaggerv1.Canary, skipLivenessChecks bool) error
+	Initialize(canary *flaggerv1.Canary) error
 	Promote(canary *flaggerv1.Canary) error
 	HasTargetChanged(canary *flaggerv1.Canary) (bool, error)
 	HaveDependenciesChanged(canary *flaggerv1.Canary) (bool, error)
diff --git a/pkg/canary/daemonset_controller.go b/pkg/canary/daemonset_controller.go
index 2bbcf57a1..aea06f587 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/daemonset_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/daemonset_controller.go
@@ -74,14 +74,14 @@ func (c *DaemonSetController) ScaleFromZero(cd *flaggerv1.Canary) error {
 
 // Initialize creates the primary DaemonSet, scales down the canary DaemonSet,
 // and returns the pod selector label and container ports
-func (c *DaemonSetController) Initialize(cd *flaggerv1.Canary, skipLivenessChecks bool) (err error) {
+func (c *DaemonSetController) Initialize(cd *flaggerv1.Canary) (err error) {
 	err = c.createPrimaryDaemonSet(cd)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("createPrimaryDaemonSet failed: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	if cd.Status.Phase == "" || cd.Status.Phase == flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseInitializing {
-		if !skipLivenessChecks && !cd.SkipAnalysis() {
+		if !cd.SkipAnalysis() {
 			if err := c.IsPrimaryReady(cd); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("IsPrimaryReady failed: %w", err)
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/canary/daemonset_controller_test.go b/pkg/canary/daemonset_controller_test.go
index 3899b1638..5ced78c0c 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/daemonset_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/daemonset_controller_test.go
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestDaemonSetController_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	daePrimary, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().DaemonSets("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func TestDaemonSetController_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDaemonSetController_Promote(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	dae2 := newDaemonSetControllerTestPodInfoV2()
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ func TestDaemonSetController_NoConfigTracking(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
 	mocks.controller.configTracker = &NopTracker{}
 
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	daePrimary, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().DaemonSets("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func TestDaemonSetController_NoConfigTracking(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDaemonSetController_HasTargetChanged(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// save last applied hash
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func TestDaemonSetController_HasTargetChanged(t *testing.T) {
 func TestDaemonSetController_Scale(t *testing.T) {
 	t.Run("ScaleToZero", func(t *testing.T) {
 		mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-		err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+		err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		err = mocks.controller.ScaleToZero(mocks.canary)
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func TestDaemonSetController_Scale(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 	t.Run("ScaleFromZeo", func(t *testing.T) {
 		mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-		err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+		err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 
 		err = mocks.controller.ScaleFromZero(mocks.canary)
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ func TestDaemonSetController_Scale(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDaemonSetController_Finalize(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	err = mocks.controller.Finalize(mocks.canary)
diff --git a/pkg/canary/daemonset_ready_test.go b/pkg/canary/daemonset_ready_test.go
index 343e73b10..006c6046f 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/daemonset_ready_test.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/daemonset_ready_test.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
-	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
 	metav1 "k8s.io/apimachinery/pkg/apis/meta/v1"
@@ -14,8 +13,8 @@ import (
 
 func TestDaemonSetController_IsReady(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	assert.NoError(t, err, "Expected primary readiness check to fail")
+	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	err = mocks.controller.IsPrimaryReady(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
diff --git a/pkg/canary/daemonset_status_test.go b/pkg/canary/daemonset_status_test.go
index c8d8e1825..42e449a80 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/daemonset_status_test.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/daemonset_status_test.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestDaemonSetController_SyncStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	status := flaggerv1.CanaryStatus{
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func TestDaemonSetController_SyncStatus(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDaemonSetController_SetFailedChecks(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	err = mocks.controller.SetStatusFailedChecks(mocks.canary, 1)
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ func TestDaemonSetController_SetFailedChecks(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDaemonSetController_SetState(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
+	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	err = mocks.controller.SetStatusPhase(mocks.canary, flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing)
diff --git a/pkg/canary/deployment_controller.go b/pkg/canary/deployment_controller.go
index a4005271b..82c85e0c6 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/deployment_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/deployment_controller.go
@@ -28,14 +28,14 @@ type DeploymentController struct {
 
 // Initialize creates the primary deployment, hpa,
 // scales to zero the canary deployment and returns the pod selector label and container ports
-func (c *DeploymentController) Initialize(cd *flaggerv1.Canary, skipLivenessChecks bool) (err error) {
+func (c *DeploymentController) Initialize(cd *flaggerv1.Canary) (err error) {
 	primaryName := fmt.Sprintf("%s-primary", cd.Spec.TargetRef.Name)
 	if err := c.createPrimaryDeployment(cd); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("createPrimaryDeployment failed: %w", err)
 	}
 
 	if cd.Status.Phase == "" || cd.Status.Phase == flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseInitializing {
-		if !skipLivenessChecks && !cd.SkipAnalysis() {
+		if !cd.SkipAnalysis() {
 			if err := c.IsPrimaryReady(cd); err != nil {
 				return fmt.Errorf("IsPrimaryReady failed: %w", err)
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/canary/deployment_controller_test.go b/pkg/canary/deployment_controller_test.go
index ed0aee50f..d2c7631cf 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/deployment_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/deployment_controller_test.go
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestDeploymentController_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
 	depPrimary, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -33,11 +32,10 @@ func TestDeploymentController_Sync(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDeploymentController_Promote(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
 	dep2 := newDeploymentControllerTestV2()
-	_, err = mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Update(dep2)
+	_, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Update(dep2)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	config2 := newDeploymentControllerTestConfigMapV2()
@@ -74,10 +72,9 @@ func TestDeploymentController_Promote(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDeploymentController_ScaleToZero(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
-	err = mocks.controller.ScaleToZero(mocks.canary)
+	err := mocks.controller.ScaleToZero(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	c, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -88,9 +85,7 @@ func TestDeploymentController_ScaleToZero(t *testing.T) {
 func TestDeploymentController_NoConfigTracking(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
 	mocks.controller.configTracker = &NopTracker{}
-
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
 	depPrimary, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -104,8 +99,7 @@ func TestDeploymentController_NoConfigTracking(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDeploymentController_HasTargetChanged(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
 	// save last applied hash
 	canary, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -190,46 +184,35 @@ func TestDeploymentController_HasTargetChanged(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestDeploymentController_Finalize(t *testing.T) {
-
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
 
-	tables := []struct {
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
 		mocks            deploymentControllerFixture
 		callInitialize   bool
 		shouldError      bool
 		expectedReplicas int32
 		canary           *flaggerv1.Canary
 	}{
-		//Primary not found returns error
+		// primary not found returns error
 		{mocks, false, false, 1, mocks.canary},
-		//Happy path
+		// happy path
 		{mocks, true, false, 1, mocks.canary},
-	}
-
-	for _, table := range tables {
-		if table.callInitialize {
-			err := mocks.controller.Initialize(table.canary, true)
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err.Error())
-			}
+	} {
+		if tc.callInitialize {
+			mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 		}
 
-		err := mocks.controller.Finalize(table.canary)
-
-		if table.shouldError && err == nil {
-			t.Error("Expected error while calling Finalize, but none was returned")
-		} else if !table.shouldError && err != nil {
-			t.Errorf("Expected no error would be returned while calling Finalize, but returned %s", err)
+		err := mocks.controller.Finalize(tc.canary)
+		if tc.shouldError {
+			require.Error(t, err)
+		} else {
+			require.NoError(t, err)
 		}
 
-		if table.expectedReplicas > 0 {
+		if tc.expectedReplicas > 0 {
 			c, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments(mocks.canary.Namespace).Get(mocks.canary.Name, metav1.GetOptions{})
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err.Error())
-			}
-			if int32Default(c.Spec.Replicas) != table.expectedReplicas {
-				t.Errorf("Expected replicas %d recieved replicas %d", table.expectedReplicas, c.Spec.Replicas)
-			}
+			require.NoError(t, err)
+			require.Equal(t, tc.expectedReplicas, *c.Spec.Replicas)
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/canary/deployment_fixture_test.go b/pkg/canary/deployment_fixture_test.go
index b2a0d6a62..92db6d16f 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/deployment_fixture_test.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/deployment_fixture_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 package canary
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
 	hpav2 "k8s.io/api/autoscaling/v2beta1"
@@ -24,6 +28,28 @@ type deploymentControllerFixture struct {
 	logger        *zap.SugaredLogger
 }
 
+func (d deploymentControllerFixture) initializeCanary(t *testing.T) {
+	err := d.controller.Initialize(d.canary)
+	require.Error(t, err) // not ready yet
+
+	primaryName := fmt.Sprintf("%s-primary", d.canary.Spec.TargetRef.Name)
+	p, err := d.controller.kubeClient.AppsV1().
+		Deployments(d.canary.Namespace).Get(primaryName, metav1.GetOptions{})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	p.Status = appsv1.DeploymentStatus{
+		Replicas:          1,
+		UpdatedReplicas:   1,
+		ReadyReplicas:     1,
+		AvailableReplicas: 1,
+	}
+
+	_, err = d.controller.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments(d.canary.Namespace).Update(p)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	require.NoError(t, d.controller.Initialize(d.canary))
+}
+
 func newDeploymentFixture() deploymentControllerFixture {
 	// init canary
 	canary := newDeploymentControllerTestCanary()
diff --git a/pkg/canary/deployment_ready_test.go b/pkg/canary/deployment_ready_test.go
index bb6e8d9fa..8289f9827 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/deployment_ready_test.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/deployment_ready_test.go
@@ -8,12 +8,13 @@ import (
 
 func TestDeploymentController_IsReady(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	require.NoError(t, err, "Expected primary readiness check to fail")
+	mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary)
 
-	err = mocks.controller.IsPrimaryReady(mocks.canary)
+	err := mocks.controller.IsPrimaryReady(mocks.canary)
 	require.Error(t, err)
 
 	_, err = mocks.controller.IsCanaryReady(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 }
+
+// TODO: more detailed tests as daemonset
diff --git a/pkg/canary/deployment_status_test.go b/pkg/canary/deployment_status_test.go
index 95b2b5586..45c590ca0 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/deployment_status_test.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/deployment_status_test.go
@@ -12,14 +12,13 @@ import (
 
 func TestDeploymentController_SyncStatus(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
 	status := flaggerv1.CanaryStatus{
 		Phase:        flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing,
 		FailedChecks: 2,
 	}
-	err = mocks.controller.SyncStatus(mocks.canary, status)
+	err := mocks.controller.SyncStatus(mocks.canary, status)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	res, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -36,10 +35,9 @@ func TestDeploymentController_SyncStatus(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDeploymentController_SetFailedChecks(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
-	err = mocks.controller.SetStatusFailedChecks(mocks.canary, 1)
+	err := mocks.controller.SetStatusFailedChecks(mocks.canary, 1)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	res, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -49,10 +47,9 @@ func TestDeploymentController_SetFailedChecks(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDeploymentController_SetState(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture()
-	err := mocks.controller.Initialize(mocks.canary, true)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
+	mocks.initializeCanary(t)
 
-	err = mocks.controller.SetStatusPhase(mocks.canary, flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing)
+	err := mocks.controller.SetStatusPhase(mocks.canary, flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	res, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
diff --git a/pkg/canary/service_controller.go b/pkg/canary/service_controller.go
index 94e14c736..a971440f1 100644
--- a/pkg/canary/service_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/canary/service_controller.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func (c *ServiceController) GetMetadata(_ *flaggerv1.Canary) (string, map[string
 }
 
 // Initialize creates or updates the primary and canary services to prepare for the canary release process targeted on the K8s service
-func (c *ServiceController) Initialize(cd *flaggerv1.Canary, _ bool) (err error) {
+func (c *ServiceController) Initialize(cd *flaggerv1.Canary) (err error) {
 	targetName := cd.Spec.TargetRef.Name
 	primaryName := fmt.Sprintf("%s-primary", targetName)
 	canaryName := fmt.Sprintf("%s-canary", targetName)
diff --git a/pkg/controller/job.go b/pkg/controller/job.go
index edd1c846c..0b54ea563 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/job.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/job.go
@@ -6,8 +6,7 @@ import "time"
 type CanaryJob struct {
 	Name             string
 	Namespace        string
-	SkipTests        bool
-	function         func(name string, namespace string, skipTests bool)
+	function         func(name string, namespace string)
 	done             chan bool
 	ticker           *time.Ticker
 	analysisInterval time.Duration
@@ -17,11 +16,11 @@ type CanaryJob struct {
 func (j CanaryJob) Start() {
 	go func() {
 		// run the infra bootstrap on job creation
-		j.function(j.Name, j.Namespace, j.SkipTests)
+		j.function(j.Name, j.Namespace)
 		for {
 			select {
 			case <-j.ticker.C:
-				j.function(j.Name, j.Namespace, j.SkipTests)
+				j.function(j.Name, j.Namespace)
 			case <-j.done:
 				return
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/controller/scheduler.go b/pkg/controller/scheduler.go
index bba6b8699..99b67d1d3 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/scheduler.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/scheduler.go
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ func (c *Controller) scheduleCanaries() {
 	}
 }
 
-func (c *Controller) advanceCanary(name string, namespace string, skipLivenessChecks bool) {
+func (c *Controller) advanceCanary(name string, namespace string) {
 	begin := time.Now()
 	// check if the canary exists
 	cd, err := c.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries(namespace).Get(name, metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func (c *Controller) advanceCanary(name string, namespace string, skipLivenessCh
 	}
 
 	// create primary
-	err = canaryController.Initialize(cd, skipLivenessChecks)
+	err = canaryController.Initialize(cd)
 	if err != nil {
 		c.recordEventWarningf(cd, "%v", err)
 		return
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ func (c *Controller) advanceCanary(name string, namespace string, skipLivenessCh
 	}
 
 	// check primary status
-	if !skipLivenessChecks && !cd.SkipAnalysis() {
+	if !cd.SkipAnalysis() {
 		if err := canaryController.IsPrimaryReady(cd); err != nil {
 			c.recordEventWarningf(cd, "%v", err)
 			return
@@ -209,12 +209,10 @@ func (c *Controller) advanceCanary(name string, namespace string, skipLivenessCh
 
 	// check canary status
 	var retriable = true
-	if !skipLivenessChecks {
-		retriable, err = canaryController.IsCanaryReady(cd)
-		if err != nil && retriable {
-			c.recordEventWarningf(cd, "%v", err)
-			return
-		}
+	retriable, err = canaryController.IsCanaryReady(cd)
+	if err != nil && retriable {
+		c.recordEventWarningf(cd, "%v", err)
+		return
 	}
 
 	// check if analysis should be skipped
diff --git a/pkg/controller/scheduler_daemonset_test.go b/pkg/controller/scheduler_daemonset_test.go
index 3d650f45b..22fe19c4a 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/scheduler_daemonset_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/scheduler_daemonset_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestScheduler_DaemonSetInit(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture(nil)
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	_, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().DaemonSets("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetInit(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestScheduler_DaemonSetNewRevision(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture(nil)
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// update
 	dae2 := newDaemonSetTestDaemonSetV2()
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetNewRevision(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	_, err = mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().DaemonSets("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetNewRevision(t *testing.T) {
 func TestScheduler_DaemonSetRollback(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture(nil)
 	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// update failed checks to max
 	err := mocks.deployer.SyncStatus(mocks.canary, flaggerv1.CanaryStatus{Phase: flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing, FailedChecks: 10})
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetRollback(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// run metric checks
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// finalise analysis
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check status
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetRollback(t *testing.T) {
 func TestScheduler_DaemonSetSkipAnalysis(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture(nil)
 	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// enable skip
 	cd, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -98,9 +98,9 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetSkipAnalysis(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	c, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetSkipAnalysis(t *testing.T) {
 func TestScheduler_DaemonSetNewRevisionReset(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture(nil)
 	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// first update
 	dae2 := newDaemonSetTestDaemonSetV2()
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetNewRevisionReset(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err := mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetNewRevisionReset(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err = mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture(nil)
 
 	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check initialized status
 	c, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect pod spec changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	config2 := newDaemonSetTestConfigMapV2()
 	_, err = mocks.kubeClient.CoreV1().ConfigMaps("default").Update(config2)
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect configs changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err := mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check progressing status
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing, c.Status.Phase)
 
 	// promote
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check promoting status
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, flaggerv1.CanaryPhasePromoting, c.Status.Phase)
 
 	// finalise
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err = mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseFinalising, c.Status.Phase)
 
 	// scale canary to zero
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 func TestScheduler_DaemonSetMirroring(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture(newDaemonSetTestCanaryMirror())
 	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// update
 	dae2 := newDaemonSetTestDaemonSetV2()
@@ -246,10 +246,10 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetMirroring(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect pod spec changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check if traffic is mirrored to canary
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err := mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetMirroring(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, mirrored)
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check if traffic is mirrored to canary
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err = mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetMirroring(t *testing.T) {
 func TestScheduler_DaemonSetABTesting(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDaemonSetFixture(newDaemonSetTestCanaryAB())
 	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// update
 	dae2 := newDaemonSetTestDaemonSetV2()
@@ -280,10 +280,10 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetABTesting(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect pod spec changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check if traffic is routed to canary
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err := mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
@@ -300,10 +300,10 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetABTesting(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// finalising
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check finalising status
 	c, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetABTesting(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, canaryImage, primaryImage)
 
 	// shutdown canary
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check rollout status
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetPortDiscovery(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Update(cd)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	canarySvc, err := mocks.kubeClient.CoreV1().Services("default").Get("podinfo-canary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetTargetPortNumber(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Update(cd)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	canarySvc, err := mocks.kubeClient.CoreV1().Services("default").Get("podinfo-canary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetTargetPortName(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Update(cd)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	canarySvc, err := mocks.kubeClient.CoreV1().Services("default").Get("podinfo-canary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -464,5 +464,5 @@ func TestScheduler_DaemonSetAlerts(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// init canary and send alerts
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 }
diff --git a/pkg/controller/scheduler_deployment_fixture_test.go b/pkg/controller/scheduler_deployment_fixture_test.go
index 3006d3eb9..136a66470 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/scheduler_deployment_fixture_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/scheduler_deployment_fixture_test.go
@@ -1,9 +1,12 @@
 package controller
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"sync"
+	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"go.uber.org/zap"
 	appsv1 "k8s.io/api/apps/v1"
 	hpav2 "k8s.io/api/autoscaling/v2beta1"
@@ -40,6 +43,28 @@ type fixture struct {
 	router        router.Interface
 }
 
+func (f fixture) makePrimaryReady(t *testing.T) {
+	primaryName := fmt.Sprintf("%s-primary", f.canary.Spec.TargetRef.Name)
+	f.makeReady(t, primaryName)
+}
+
+func (f fixture) makeCanaryReady(t *testing.T) {
+	f.makeReady(t, f.canary.Spec.TargetRef.Name)
+}
+
+func (f fixture) makeReady(t *testing.T, name string) {
+	p, err := f.kubeClient.AppsV1().
+		Deployments("default").
+		Get(name, metav1.GetOptions{})
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+
+	p.Status = appsv1.DeploymentStatus{Replicas: 1, UpdatedReplicas: 1,
+		ReadyReplicas: 1, AvailableReplicas: 1}
+
+	_, err = f.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Update(p)
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+}
+
 func newDeploymentFixture(c *flaggerv1.Canary) fixture {
 	if c == nil {
 		c = newDeploymentTestCanary()
diff --git a/pkg/controller/scheduler_deployment_test.go b/pkg/controller/scheduler_deployment_test.go
index b65b6447f..b6774f763 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/scheduler_deployment_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/scheduler_deployment_test.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ import (
 
 func TestScheduler_DeploymentInit(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(nil)
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	_, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Get("podinfo-primary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -27,7 +27,15 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentInit(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestScheduler_DeploymentNewRevision(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(nil)
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+
+	// initializing ...
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+
+	// make primary ready
+	mocks.makePrimaryReady(t)
+
+	// initialization done
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// update
 	dep2 := newDeploymentTestDeploymentV2()
@@ -35,7 +43,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentNewRevision(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	c, err := mocks.kubeClient.AppsV1().Deployments("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -44,8 +52,14 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentNewRevision(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestScheduler_DeploymentRollback(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(nil)
-	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	// initializing
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+
+	// make primary ready
+	mocks.makePrimaryReady(t)
+
+	// initialized
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// update failed checks to max
 	err := mocks.deployer.SyncStatus(mocks.canary, flaggerv1.CanaryStatus{Phase: flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing, FailedChecks: 10})
@@ -68,11 +82,11 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentRollback(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// run metric checks
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// finalise analysis
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// check status
@@ -84,8 +98,14 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentRollback(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestScheduler_DeploymentSkipAnalysis(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(nil)
-	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	// initializing
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+
+	// make primary ready
+	mocks.makePrimaryReady(t)
+
+	// initialized
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// enable skip
 	cd, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -100,9 +120,11 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentSkipAnalysis(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+	mocks.makeCanaryReady(t)
+
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	c, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -118,8 +140,14 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentAnalysisPhases(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(cd)
 
-	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	// initializing
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+
+	// make primary ready
+	mocks.makePrimaryReady(t)
+
+	// initialized
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseInitialized))
 
 	// update
@@ -128,23 +156,24 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentAnalysisPhases(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing))
+	mocks.makeCanaryReady(t)
 
 	// progressing
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing))
 
 	// promoting
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhasePromoting))
 
 	// finalising
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseFinalising))
 
 	// succeeded
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseSucceeded))
 }
 
@@ -156,8 +185,14 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentBlueGreenAnalysisPhases(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(cd)
 
-	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	// initializing
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+
+	// make primary ready
+	mocks.makePrimaryReady(t)
+
+	// initialized
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseInitialized))
 
 	// update
@@ -166,34 +201,42 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentBlueGreenAnalysisPhases(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes (progressing)
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing))
+	mocks.makeCanaryReady(t)
 
 	// advance (progressing)
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing))
 
 	// route traffic to primary (progressing)
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing))
 
 	// promoting
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhasePromoting))
 
 	// finalising
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseFinalising))
 
 	// succeeded
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 	require.NoError(t, assertPhase(mocks.flaggerClient, "podinfo", flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseSucceeded))
 }
 
 func TestScheduler_DeploymentNewRevisionReset(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(nil)
 	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	// initializing
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+
+	// make primary ready
+	mocks.makePrimaryReady(t)
+
+	// initialized
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// first update
 	dep2 := newDeploymentTestDeploymentV2()
@@ -201,9 +244,11 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentNewRevisionReset(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+	mocks.makeCanaryReady(t)
+
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err := mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -217,7 +262,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentNewRevisionReset(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err = mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -229,8 +274,14 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentNewRevisionReset(t *testing.T) {
 func TestScheduler_DeploymentPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(nil)
 
-	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	// initializing
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+
+	// make primary ready
+	mocks.makePrimaryReady(t)
+
+	// initialized
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check initialized status
 	c, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -243,7 +294,8 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect pod spec changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+	mocks.makeCanaryReady(t)
 
 	config2 := newDeploymentTestConfigMapV2()
 	_, err = mocks.kubeClient.CoreV1().ConfigMaps("default").Update(config2)
@@ -254,7 +306,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect configs changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err := mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -265,7 +317,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check progressing status
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -273,7 +325,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing, c.Status.Phase)
 
 	// promote
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check promoting status
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -281,7 +333,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, flaggerv1.CanaryPhasePromoting, c.Status.Phase)
 
 	// finalise
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err = mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -310,7 +362,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseFinalising, c.Status.Phase)
 
 	// scale canary to zero
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -319,8 +371,15 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentPromotion(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestScheduler_DeploymentMirroring(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(newDeploymentTestCanaryMirror())
-	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+
+	// initializing
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+
+	// make primary ready
+	mocks.makePrimaryReady(t)
+
+	// initialized
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// update
 	dep2 := newDeploymentTestDeploymentV2()
@@ -328,10 +387,11 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentMirroring(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect pod spec changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+	mocks.makeCanaryReady(t)
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check if traffic is mirrored to canary
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err := mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
@@ -341,7 +401,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentMirroring(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.True(t, mirrored)
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check if traffic is mirrored to canary
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err = mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
@@ -353,8 +413,14 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentMirroring(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestScheduler_DeploymentABTesting(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(newDeploymentTestCanaryAB())
-	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	// initializing
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+
+	// make primary ready
+	mocks.makePrimaryReady(t)
+
+	// initialized
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// update
 	dep2 := newDeploymentTestDeploymentV2()
@@ -362,10 +428,11 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentABTesting(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect pod spec changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
+	mocks.makeCanaryReady(t)
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check if traffic is routed to canary
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err := mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
@@ -382,10 +449,10 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentABTesting(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// finalising
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check finalising status
 	c, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -401,7 +468,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentABTesting(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, canaryImage, primaryImage)
 
 	// shutdown canary
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check rollout status
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -419,7 +486,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentPortDiscovery(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Update(cd)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	canarySvc, err := mocks.kubeClient.CoreV1().Services("default").Get("podinfo-canary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -452,7 +519,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentTargetPortNumber(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Update(cd)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	canarySvc, err := mocks.kubeClient.CoreV1().Services("default").Get("podinfo-canary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -485,7 +552,7 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentTargetPortName(t *testing.T) {
 	_, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Update(cd)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	canarySvc, err := mocks.kubeClient.CoreV1().Services("default").Get("podinfo-canary", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -546,5 +613,5 @@ func TestScheduler_DeploymentAlerts(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// init canary and send alerts
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 }
diff --git a/pkg/controller/scheduler_svc_test.go b/pkg/controller/scheduler_svc_test.go
index d1214adb0..15da4d2ec 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/scheduler_svc_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/scheduler_svc_test.go
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ func TestScheduler_ServicePromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	mocks := newDeploymentFixture(newTestServiceCanary())
 
 	// init
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check initialized status
 	c, err := mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ func TestScheduler_ServicePromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// detect service spec changes
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err := mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func TestScheduler_ServicePromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(t, err)
 
 	// advance
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check progressing status
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ func TestScheduler_ServicePromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseProgressing, c.Status.Phase)
 
 	// promote
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	// check promoting status
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ func TestScheduler_ServicePromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, flaggerv1.CanaryPhasePromoting, c.Status.Phase)
 
 	// finalise
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	primaryWeight, canaryWeight, mirrored, err = mocks.router.GetRoutes(mocks.canary)
 	require.NoError(t, err)
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func TestScheduler_ServicePromotion(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Equal(t, flaggerv1.CanaryPhaseFinalising, c.Status.Phase)
 
 	// scale canary to zero
-	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default", true)
+	mocks.ctrl.advanceCanary("podinfo", "default")
 
 	c, err = mocks.flaggerClient.FlaggerV1beta1().Canaries("default").Get("podinfo", metav1.GetOptions{})
 	require.NoError(t, err)