diff --git a/scripts/rel/cut4x.sh b/scripts/rel/cut4x.sh
index 58131c757..df142b936 100755
--- a/scripts/rel/cut4x.sh
+++ b/scripts/rel/cut4x.sh
@@ -230,6 +230,16 @@ if [ "$HAS_RELUP_DB" = 'yes' ]; then
     ./scripts/relup-base-vsns.escript check-vsn-db "$PKG_VSN" "$RELUP_PATHS"
 fi
 
+## Run some additional checks (e.g. some for enterprise edition only)
+CHECKS_DIR="./scripts/rel/checks"
+if [ -d "${CHECKS_DIR}" ]; then
+    CHECKS="$(find "${CHECKS_DIR}" -name "*.sh" -print0 2>/dev/null | xargs -0)"
+    for c in $CHECKS; do
+        logmsg "Executing $c"
+        $c
+    done
+fi
+
 if [ "$DRYRUN" = 'yes' ]; then
     logmsg "Release tag is ready to be created with command: git tag $TAG"
 else
diff --git a/test/emqx_node_helpers.erl b/test/emqx_node_helpers.erl
index ad530b3d7..af7093dd7 100644
--- a/test/emqx_node_helpers.erl
+++ b/test/emqx_node_helpers.erl
@@ -40,7 +40,9 @@ start_slave(Name, Opts) ->
         {ok, _} ->
             ok;
         {error, started_not_connected, _} ->
-            ok
+            ok;
+        Other ->
+            throw(Other)
     end,
     pong = net_adm:ping(Node),
     setup_node(Node, Opts),
@@ -92,7 +94,11 @@ setup_node(Node, #{} = Opts) ->
         end,
     EnvHandler = maps:get(env_handler, Opts, DefaultEnvHandler),
 
-    [ok = rpc:call(Node, application, load, [App]) || App <- [gen_rpc, emqx]],
+    %% apps need to be loaded before starting for ekka to find and create mnesia tables
+    LoadApps = lists:usort([gen_rcp, emqx] ++ ?SLAVE_START_APPS),
+    lists:foreach(fun(App) ->
+                          rpc:call(Node, application, load, [App])
+                  end, LoadApps),
     ok = rpc:call(Node, emqx_ct_helpers, start_apps, [StartApps, EnvHandler]),
 
     case maps:get(no_join, Opts, false) of