diff --git a/test/units/TEST-35-LOGIN.sh b/test/units/TEST-35-LOGIN.sh
index 0f4b770de3..1ad06526e6 100755
--- a/test/units/TEST-35-LOGIN.sh
+++ b/test/units/TEST-35-LOGIN.sh
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ testcase_list_users_sessions_seats() {
         return
     fi
 
-    assert_eq "$(loginctl list-users --no-legend | awk '$2 == "logind-test-user" { print $4 }')" lingering
+    timeout 30 bash -c "until [[ \"\$(loginctl list-users --no-legend | awk '\$2 == \"logind-test-user\" { print \$4 }')\" == lingering ]]; do sleep 1; done"
 }
 
 teardown_stop_idle_session() (