diff --git a/api_tests/src/follow.spec.ts b/api_tests/src/follow.spec.ts
index 6d52b11c8..22fdfa305 100644
--- a/api_tests/src/follow.spec.ts
+++ b/api_tests/src/follow.spec.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   betaUrl,
   registerUser,
   unfollows,
+  delay,
 } from "./shared";
 
 beforeAll(setupLogins);
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ test("Follow local community", async () => {
 
 test("Follow federated community", async () => {
   // It takes about 1 second for the community aggregates to federate
+  await delay(2000); // if this is the second test run, we don't have a way to wait for the correct number of subscribers
   const betaCommunityInitial = (
     await waitUntil(
       () => resolveBetaCommunity(alpha),