diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh
index 7c76b841b17b..21bde60c9523 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ cleanup() {
 server_listen() {
 	ip netns exec "${ns2}" nc "${netcat_opt}" -l -p "${port}" > "${outfile}" &
 	server_pid=$!
-	sleep 0.2
 }
 
 client_connect() {
@@ -92,6 +91,16 @@ verify_data() {
 	fi
 }
 
+wait_for_port() {
+	for i in $(seq 20); do
+		if ip netns exec "${ns2}" ss ${2:--4}OHntl | grep -q "$1"; then
+			return 0
+		fi
+		sleep 0.1
+	done
+	return 1
+}
+
 set -e
 
 # no arguments: automated test, run all
@@ -183,6 +192,7 @@ setup
 # basic communication works
 echo "test basic connectivity"
 server_listen
+wait_for_port ${port} ${netcat_opt}
 client_connect
 verify_data
 
@@ -194,6 +204,7 @@ ip netns exec "${ns1}" tc filter add dev veth1 egress \
 	section "encap_${tuntype}_${mac}"
 echo "test bpf encap without decap (expect failure)"
 server_listen
+wait_for_port ${port} ${netcat_opt}
 ! client_connect
 
 if [[ "$tuntype" =~ "udp" ]]; then