diff --git a/.github/workflows/integration-tests-ui-critical.yml b/.github/workflows/integration-tests-ui-critical.yml
index 77691bfd65b..e50cbbb38c3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/integration-tests-ui-critical.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/integration-tests-ui-critical.yml
@@ -89,17 +89,7 @@ jobs:
           sudo udevadm control --reload-rules
           sudo udevadm trigger --name-match=kvm
 
-      - name: AVD cache
-        uses: actions/cache@v5
-        id: avd-cache
-        with:
-          path: |
-            ~/.android/avd/*
-            ~/.android/adb*
-          key: avd-api-${{ matrix.api-level }}-${{ matrix.arch }}-${{ matrix.target }}
-
       - name: Create AVD and generate snapshot for caching
-        if: steps.avd-cache.outputs.cache-hit != 'true'
         uses: reactivecircus/android-emulator-runner@b530d96654c385303d652368551fb075bc2f0b6b # pin@v2
         with:
           api-level: ${{ matrix.api-level }}
diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index ccff564763f..6346e67acc7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -45,6 +45,10 @@
   - [changelog](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-native/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md#0131)
   - [diff](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-native/compare/0.12.7...0.13.1)
 
+### Internal
+
+- Check notification permission before launching request to fix flaky API 34 tests ([#5146](https://github.com/getsentry/sentry-java/pull/5146))
+
 ## 8.33.0
 
 ### Features
diff --git a/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/maestro/.maestro/config.yaml b/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/maestro/.maestro/config.yaml
index ebb5a3a8e6d..f50373791f3 100644
--- a/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/maestro/.maestro/config.yaml
+++ b/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/maestro/.maestro/config.yaml
@@ -1,3 +1,13 @@
 platform:
   android:
     disableAnimations: true
+onFlowStart:
+  # Dismiss any ANR dialog (e.g. "Pixel Launcher isn't responding")
+  - runFlow:
+      when:
+        visible: "Close app"
+      commands:
+        - tapOn: "Close app"
+  # Close notification shade if left open from a previous test
+  - pressKey: back
+  - pressKey: home
diff --git a/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/maestro/appStart.yaml b/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/maestro/appStart.yaml
index 7356bd4bf08..f7000b21a82 100644
--- a/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/maestro/appStart.yaml
+++ b/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/maestro/appStart.yaml
@@ -23,6 +23,12 @@ name: App Start Tests
       all: allow
 - assertVisible: "Welcome!"
 - tapOn: "Trigger Notification"
+# Grant notification permission if the system dialog appears
+- runFlow:
+    when:
+      visible: "Allow"
+    commands:
+      - tapOn: "Allow"
 - tapOn: "Finish Activity"
 - assertNotVisible: "Welcome!"
 - waitForAnimationToEnd
@@ -45,6 +51,12 @@ name: App Start Tests
       all: allow
 - assertVisible: "Welcome!"
 - tapOn: "Trigger Notification"
+# Grant notification permission if the system dialog appears
+- runFlow:
+    when:
+      visible: "Allow"
+    commands:
+      - tapOn: "Allow"
 - tapOn: "Finish Activity"
 - assertNotVisible: "Welcome!"
 - killApp
diff --git a/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/src/main/java/io/sentry/uitest/android/critical/MainActivity.kt b/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/src/main/java/io/sentry/uitest/android/critical/MainActivity.kt
index f6b81c869ef..6b758173a89 100644
--- a/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/src/main/java/io/sentry/uitest/android/critical/MainActivity.kt
+++ b/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/src/main/java/io/sentry/uitest/android/critical/MainActivity.kt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package io.sentry.uitest.android.critical
 
 import android.content.Intent
+import android.content.pm.PackageManager
 import android.os.Build
 import android.os.Bundle
 import android.widget.Toast
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ import androidx.compose.runtime.remember
 import androidx.compose.runtime.setValue
 import androidx.compose.ui.Modifier
 import androidx.compose.ui.unit.dp
+import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
 import io.sentry.Sentry
 import io.sentry.android.core.performance.AppStartMetrics
 import io.sentry.uitest.android.critical.NotificationHelper.showNotification
@@ -82,7 +84,13 @@ class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
             Button(onClick = { finish() }) { Text("Finish Activity") }
             Button(
               onClick = {
-                if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU) {
+                if (
+                  Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.TIRAMISU &&
+                    ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(
+                      this@MainActivity,
+                      android.Manifest.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS,
+                    ) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
+                ) {
                   requestPermissionLauncher.launch(android.Manifest.permission.POST_NOTIFICATIONS)
                 } else {
                   postNotification()
@@ -91,6 +99,9 @@ class MainActivity : ComponentActivity() {
             ) {
               Text("Trigger Notification")
             }
+            Button(onClick = { android.os.Process.killProcess(android.os.Process.myPid()) }) {
+              Text("Kill Process")
+            }
             Button(
               onClick = {
                 startActivity(
diff --git a/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/src/main/java/io/sentry/uitest/android/critical/NotificationHelper.kt b/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/src/main/java/io/sentry/uitest/android/critical/NotificationHelper.kt
index 4cbaede1b7f..197fc378a39 100644
--- a/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/src/main/java/io/sentry/uitest/android/critical/NotificationHelper.kt
+++ b/sentry-android-integration-tests/sentry-uitest-android-critical/src/main/java/io/sentry/uitest/android/critical/NotificationHelper.kt
@@ -19,7 +19,10 @@ object NotificationHelper {
       context.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE) as NotificationManager
 
     // Create notification channel for Android 8.0+ (API 26+)
+    // Delete first to ensure the channel is recreated with the correct importance,
+    // since Android preserves channel settings across app reinstalls (adb install -r).
     if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+      notificationManager.deleteNotificationChannel(CHANNEL_ID)
       val channel =
         NotificationChannel(CHANNEL_ID, "Notifications", NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_DEFAULT)
       channel.description = "description"