diff --git a/client/driver/fabfile.py b/client/driver/fabfile.py
index 65678e6..0f09a3a 100644
--- a/client/driver/fabfile.py
+++ b/client/driver/fabfile.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import requests
 from fabric.api import env, lcd, local, settings, show, task
 from fabric.state import output as fabric_output
 
-from utils import (file_exists, get, load_driver_conf, parse_bool,
+from utils import (file_exists, get, get_content, load_driver_conf, parse_bool,
                    put, run, run_sql_script, sudo, FabricException)
 
 # Loads the driver config file (defaults to driver_config.py)
@@ -306,12 +306,12 @@ def upload_result(result_dir=None, prefix=None, upload_code=None):
                              data={'upload_code': upload_code})
     if response.status_code != 200:
         raise Exception('Error uploading result.\nStatus: {}\nMessage: {}\n'.format(
-            response.status_code, response.content))
+            response.status_code, get_content(response)))
 
     for f in files.values():  # pylint: disable=not-an-iterable
         f.close()
 
-    LOG.info(response.content)
+    LOG.info(get_content(response))
 
     return response
 
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ def get_result(max_time_sec=180, interval_sec=5, upload_code=None):
 
     while elapsed <= max_time_sec:
         rsp = requests.get(url)
-        response = rsp.content.decode()
+        response = get_content(rsp)
         assert response != 'null'
 
         LOG.debug('%s [status code: %d, content_type: %s, elapsed: %ds]', response,
@@ -693,16 +693,20 @@ def wait_pipeline_data_ready(max_time_sec=800, interval_sec=10):
     max_time_sec = int(max_time_sec)
     interval_sec = int(interval_sec)
     elapsed = 0
+    ready = False
 
     while elapsed <= max_time_sec:
         response = requests.get(dconf.WEBSITE_URL + '/test/pipeline/')
-        response = response.content
-        LOG.info(response)
-        if 'False' in str(response):
+        content = get_content(response)
+        LOG.info("%s (elapsed: %ss)", content, interval_sec)
+        if 'False' in content:
             time.sleep(interval_sec)
             elapsed += interval_sec
         else:
-            return
+            ready = True
+            break
+
+    return ready
 
 
 @task
@@ -710,14 +714,14 @@ def integration_tests():
 
     # Create test website
     response = requests.get(dconf.WEBSITE_URL + '/test/create/')
-    LOG.info(response.content)
+    LOG.info(get_content(response))
 
     # Upload training data
     LOG.info('Upload training data to no tuning session')
     upload_batch(result_dir='../../integrationTests/data/', upload_code='ottertuneTestNoTuning')
 
     # wait celery periodic task finishes
-    wait_pipeline_data_ready()
+    assert wait_pipeline_data_ready(), "Pipeline data failed"
 
     # Test DNN
     LOG.info('Test DNN (deep neural network)')
diff --git a/client/driver/utils.py b/client/driver/utils.py
index 67b5b8d..af66ca1 100644
--- a/client/driver/utils.py
+++ b/client/driver/utils.py
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ def parse_bool(value):
     return value
 
 
+def get_content(response):
+    content = response.content
+    if isinstance(content, bytes):
+        content = content.decode('utf-8')
+    return content
+
+
 @task
 def run(cmd, capture=True, **kwargs):
     capture = parse_bool(capture)
diff --git a/server/website/website/views.py b/server/website/website/views.py
index eb64925..500db8d 100644
--- a/server/website/website/views.py
+++ b/server/website/website/views.py
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ def tuner_status_view(request, project_id, session_id, result_id):  # pylint: di
     tasks = TaskUtil.get_tasks(res.task_ids)
 
     overall_status, num_completed = TaskUtil.get_task_status(tasks)
-    if overall_status in ['PENDING', 'RECEIVED', 'STARTED']:
+    if overall_status in ['PENDING', 'RECEIVED', 'STARTED', None]:
         completion_time = 'N/A'
         total_runtime = 'N/A'
     else:
@@ -1001,13 +1001,18 @@ def give_result(request, upload_code):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
     overall_status, num_completed = TaskUtil.get_task_status(tasks)
 
     if overall_status == 'SUCCESS':
-        next_config = latest_result.next_configuration
-        if not next_config:
+        if not latest_result.next_configuration:
+            # If the task status was incomplete when we first queried latest_result
+            # but succeeded before the call to TaskUtil.get_task_status() finished
+            # then latest_result is stale and must be updated.
+            latest_result = Result.objects.get(id=latest_result.pk)
+
+        if not latest_result.next_configuration:
             overall_status = 'FAILURE'
             response = _failed_response(latest_result, tasks, num_completed, overall_status,
                                         'Failed to get the next configuration.')
         else:
-            response = HttpResponse(JSONUtil.dumps(next_config),
+            response = HttpResponse(JSONUtil.dumps(latest_result.next_configuration),
                                     content_type='application/json')
 
     elif overall_status in ('FAILURE', 'REVOKED', 'RETRY'):
@@ -1252,7 +1257,7 @@ def alt_create_or_edit_session(request):
 # integration test
 @csrf_exempt
 def pipeline_data_ready(request):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
-    LOG.info(PipelineRun.objects.get_latest())
+    LOG.debug("Latest pipeline run: %s", PipelineRun.objects.get_latest())
     if PipelineRun.objects.get_latest() is None:
         response = "Pipeline data ready: False"
     else: