diff --git a/reg-tests/seamless-reload/abns_socket.vtc b/reg-tests/seamless-reload/abns_socket.vtc
index e8e5f287f..4a266afb8 100644
--- a/reg-tests/seamless-reload/abns_socket.vtc
+++ b/reg-tests/seamless-reload/abns_socket.vtc
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ haproxy h1 -W -S -conf {
 } -start
 
 shell {
+    sleep 0.1  ;# let the master process fully start and bind
     echo "reload" | socat -t1000 TCP:${h1_mcli_addr}:${h1_mcli_port} - | grep 'Success=1'
 }