diff --git a/api/api_test.go b/api/api_test.go
index 1fefb724..7bb57d80 100644
--- a/api/api_test.go
+++ b/api/api_test.go
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ func waitTCPListening(address string) {
 		conn, err := net.Dial("tcp", address)
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Printf("tcp server %v not listening: %v\n", address, err)
+			time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 			continue
 		}
 		fmt.Printf("tcp server %v now listening\n", address)
diff --git a/sftpd/sftpd_test.go b/sftpd/sftpd_test.go
index 5d3e8930..eb0f3df9 100644
--- a/sftpd/sftpd_test.go
+++ b/sftpd/sftpd_test.go
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ func waitTCPListening(address string) {
 		conn, err := net.Dial("tcp", address)
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Printf("tcp server %v not listening: %v\n", address, err)
+			time.Sleep(100 * time.Millisecond)
 			continue
 		}
 		fmt.Printf("tcp server %v now listening\n", address)