diff --git a/cumulus/zombienet/tests/0002-pov_recovery.toml b/cumulus/zombienet/tests/0002-pov_recovery.toml
index 34cacbc2a9..105e4a324f 100644
--- a/cumulus/zombienet/tests/0002-pov_recovery.toml
+++ b/cumulus/zombienet/tests/0002-pov_recovery.toml
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ add_to_genesis = false
   validator = false # full node
   image = "{{COL_IMAGE}}"
   command = "test-parachain"
-  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--disable-block-announcements", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}","--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
+  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--disable-block-announcements", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}", "--in-peers 0", "--out-peers 0","--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
 
   # we fail recovery for 'eve' from time to time to test retries
   [[parachains.collators]]
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ add_to_genesis = false
   validator = true # collator
   image = "{{COL_IMAGE}}"
   command = "test-parachain"
-  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--fail-pov-recovery", "--use-null-consensus", "--disable-block-announcements", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}",  "--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
+  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--fail-pov-recovery", "--in-peers 0", "--out-peers 0", "--use-null-consensus", "--disable-block-announcements", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}",  "--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
 
   # run 'one' as a RPC collator who does not produce blocks
   [[parachains.collators]]
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ add_to_genesis = false
   validator = true # collator
   image = "{{COL_IMAGE}}"
   command = "test-parachain"
-  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--use-null-consensus", "--disable-block-announcements", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}", "--relay-chain-rpc-url {{'ferdie'|zombie('wsUri')}}", "--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
+  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--use-null-consensus", "--in-peers 0", "--out-peers 0", "--disable-block-announcements", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}", "--relay-chain-rpc-url {{'ferdie'|zombie('wsUri')}}", "--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
 
   # run 'two' as a RPC parachain full node
   [[parachains.collators]]
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ add_to_genesis = false
   validator = false # full node
   image = "{{COL_IMAGE}}"
   command = "test-parachain"
-  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--disable-block-announcements", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}", "--relay-chain-rpc-url {{'ferdie'|zombie('wsUri')}}", "--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
+  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--disable-block-announcements", "--in-peers 0", "--out-peers 0", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}", "--relay-chain-rpc-url {{'ferdie'|zombie('wsUri')}}", "--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
 
   # run 'three' with light client
   [[parachains.collators]]
@@ -80,4 +80,4 @@ add_to_genesis = false
   validator = false # full node
   image = "{{COL_IMAGE}}"
   command = "test-parachain"
-  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--disable-block-announcements", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}", "--relay-chain-light-client", "--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
+  args = ["-lparachain::availability=trace,sync=debug,parachain=debug,cumulus-pov-recovery=debug,cumulus-consensus=debug", "--disable-block-announcements", "--in-peers 0", "--out-peers 0", "--bootnodes {{'bob'|zombie('multiAddress')}}", "--relay-chain-light-client", "--", "--reserved-only", "--reserved-nodes {{'ferdie'|zombie('multiAddress')}}"]
diff --git a/cumulus/zombienet/tests/0002-pov_recovery.zndsl b/cumulus/zombienet/tests/0002-pov_recovery.zndsl
index 12ff00210f..7a93e2f374 100644
--- a/cumulus/zombienet/tests/0002-pov_recovery.zndsl
+++ b/cumulus/zombienet/tests/0002-pov_recovery.zndsl
@@ -15,3 +15,10 @@ one: reports block height is at least 20 within 800 seconds
 two: reports block height is at least 20 within 800 seconds
 three: reports block height is at least 20 within 800 seconds
 eve: reports block height is at least 20 within 800 seconds
+
+one: count of log lines containing "Importing block retrieved using pov_recovery" is greater than 19 within 10 seconds
+two: count of log lines containing "Importing block retrieved using pov_recovery" is greater than 19 within 10 seconds
+three: count of log lines containing "Importing block retrieved using pov_recovery" is greater than 19 within 10 seconds
+eve: count of log lines containing "Importing block retrieved using pov_recovery" is greater than 19 within 10 seconds
+charlie: count of log lines containing "Importing block retrieved using pov_recovery" is greater than 19 within 10 seconds
+alice: count of log lines containing "Importing block retrieved using pov_recovery" is greater than 19 within 10 seconds