diff --git a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/border_router/test_publish_meshcop_service.py b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/border_router/test_publish_meshcop_service.py
index 7ced37dd6..db4aad90b 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/border_router/test_publish_meshcop_service.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/border_router/test_publish_meshcop_service.py
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ class PublishMeshCopService(thread_cert.TestCase):
             'is_otbr': True,
             'version': '1.2',
             'network_name': 'ot-br1',
+            'boot_delay': 5,
         },
         BR2: {
             'name': 'BR_2',
@@ -66,6 +67,7 @@ class PublishMeshCopService(thread_cert.TestCase):
             'is_otbr': True,
             'version': '1.2',
             'network_name': 'ot-br2',
+            'boot_delay': 5,
         },
         HOST: {
             'name': 'Host',
@@ -79,10 +81,15 @@ class PublishMeshCopService(thread_cert.TestCase):
         br2 = self.nodes[BR2]
         br2.disable_br()
 
+        # Use different network names to distinguish meshcop services
+        br1.set_network_name('ot-br1')
+        br2.set_network_name('ot-br2')
+
         host.start(start_radvd=False)
         self.simulator.go(20)
 
         self.assertEqual(br1.get_state(), 'disabled')
+        self.check_meshcop_service(br1, host)
         br1.start()
         self.simulator.go(20)
         self.assertEqual('leader', br1.get_state())
diff --git a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/thread_cert.py b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/thread_cert.py
index 355b44277..5d32e1120 100755
--- a/tests/scripts/thread-cert/thread_cert.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/thread-cert/thread_cert.py
@@ -162,6 +162,8 @@ class TestCase(NcpSupportMixin, unittest.TestCase):
                 version=params['version'],
                 is_bbr=params['is_bbr'],
             )
+            if 'boot_delay' in params:
+                self.simulator.go(params['boot_delay'])
 
             self.nodes[i] = node