diff --git a/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/harness.ts b/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/harness.ts
index 2f248d2a0..956255185 100644
--- a/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/harness.ts
+++ b/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/harness.ts
@@ -1441,8 +1441,10 @@ export class MerchantService implements MerchantServiceInterface {
     }
   }
 
-  async start(): Promise<void> {
-    await exec(`taler-merchant-dbinit -r -c "${this.configFilename}"`);
+  async start(
+    withResetTables: boolean = true, // eventually, this should become a named parameter
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    await exec(`taler-merchant-dbinit ${withResetTables ? "-r" : ""} -c "${this.configFilename}"`);
 
     this.proc = this.globalState.spawnService(
       "taler-merchant-httpd",
diff --git a/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/test-revocation.ts b/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/test-revocation.ts
index fc1ffb267..0b5c47551 100644
--- a/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/test-revocation.ts
+++ b/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/test-revocation.ts
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ async function revokeAllWalletCoins(req: {
   await exchange.keyup();
   await delayMs(1000);
   await merchant.stop();
-  await merchant.start();
+  await merchant.start(false); // 'false' prevents DB reset
   await merchant.pingUntilAvailable();
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/test-tipping.ts b/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/test-tipping.ts
index 7675db119..3eb8109e5 100644
--- a/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/test-tipping.ts
+++ b/packages/taler-wallet-cli/src/integrationtests/test-tipping.ts
@@ -63,10 +63,9 @@ export async function runTippingTest(t: GlobalTestState) {
 
   await exchange.runWirewatchOnce();
 
-  // FIXME/WHY? Disabling for now, as start() erases the DB.
-  /*await merchant.stop();
-  await merchant.start();
-  await merchant.pingUntilAvailable();*/
+  await merchant.stop();
+  await merchant.start(false);
+  await merchant.pingUntilAvailable();
 
   const r = await MerchantPrivateApi.queryTippingReserves(merchant, "default");
   console.log("tipping reserves:", JSON.stringify(r, undefined, 2));