diff --git a/ui-tests/playwright.config.js b/ui-tests/playwright.config.js
index 9ece6fa..09c86b6 100644
--- a/ui-tests/playwright.config.js
+++ b/ui-tests/playwright.config.js
@@ -10,5 +10,6 @@ module.exports = {
     url: 'http://localhost:8888/lab',
     timeout: 120 * 1000,
     reuseExistingServer: !process.env.CI
-  }
+  },
+  workers: 1
 };
diff --git a/ui-tests/tests/jupyterlab_new_launcher.spec.ts b/ui-tests/tests/jupyterlab_new_launcher.spec.ts
index a3ec91e..ef66d52 100644
--- a/ui-tests/tests/jupyterlab_new_launcher.spec.ts
+++ b/ui-tests/tests/jupyterlab_new_launcher.spec.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { expect, test, galata } from '@jupyterlab/galata';
+import { Page } from '@playwright/test';
 
 const SETTINGS_ID = 'jupyterlab-new-launcher:plugin';
 
@@ -43,15 +44,19 @@ test.describe('With starred section', () => {
     }
   });
 
+  const clickOnStars = async (page: Page) => {
+    await page
+      .locator('.jp-Launcher-launchNotebook .jp-starIconButton')
+      .click();
+    await page.locator('.jp-Launcher-launchConsole .jp-starIconButton').click();
+  };
+
   test('should render new launcher with starred section', async ({ page }) => {
     const launcher = page.locator('.jp-LauncherBody');
     // expand the console section
     await page.locator('.jp-Launcher-launchConsole summary').click();
     // star some items
-    await page
-      .locator('.jp-Launcher-launchNotebook .jp-starIconButton')
-      .click();
-    await page.locator('.jp-Launcher-launchConsole .jp-starIconButton').click();
+    await clickOnStars(page);
     // collapse the "create empty" section
     await page.locator('.jp-Launcher-openByType summary').click();
     // wait for animations to complete
@@ -59,6 +64,8 @@ test.describe('With starred section', () => {
     expect(await launcher.screenshot()).toMatchSnapshot(
       'launcher-with-starred.png'
     );
+    // remove stars from the items
+    await clickOnStars(page);
   });
 });