diff --git a/tests/api2/assets/websocket/server.py b/tests/api2/assets/websocket/server.py
index 4faf588f94e36..5374ce2e7a45c 100644
--- a/tests/api2/assets/websocket/server.py
+++ b/tests/api2/assets/websocket/server.py
@@ -9,7 +9,13 @@ def reboot(ip, service_name=None):
     """Reboot the TrueNAS at the specified IP.
     Return when it has rebooted."""
     with client(host_ip=ip) as c:
-        c.call('system.reboot')
+        # we call this method to "reboot" the system
+        # because it causes the system to go offline
+        # immediately (kernel panic). We don't care
+        # about clean shutdowns here, we're more
+        # interested in the box rebooting as quickly
+        # as possible.
+        c.call('failover.become_passive')
 
     # Wait for server to reappear
     ping_count, reappear_time = 1, 120