diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/net/pmtu.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/net/pmtu.sh
index 88be9083b923..a4dc32729749 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/net/pmtu.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/net/pmtu.sh
@@ -1129,6 +1129,13 @@ check_command() {
 	return 0
 }
 
+check_running() {
+	pid=${1}
+	cmd=${2}
+
+	[ "$(cat /proc/${pid}/cmdline 2>/dev/null | tr -d '\0')" = "{cmd}" ]
+}
+
 test_cleanup_vxlanX_exception() {
 	outer="${1}"
 	encap="vxlan"
@@ -1159,11 +1166,12 @@ test_cleanup_vxlanX_exception() {
 
 	${ns_a} ip link del dev veth_A-R1 &
 	iplink_pid=$!
-	sleep 1
-	if [ "$(cat /proc/${iplink_pid}/cmdline 2>/dev/null | tr -d '\0')" = "iplinkdeldevveth_A-R1" ]; then
-		err "  can't delete veth device in a timely manner, PMTU dst likely leaked"
-		return 1
-	fi
+	for i in $(seq 1 20); do
+		check_running ${iplink_pid} "iplinkdeldevveth_A-R1" || return 0
+		sleep 0.1
+	done
+	err "  can't delete veth device in a timely manner, PMTU dst likely leaked"
+	return 1
 }
 
 test_cleanup_ipv6_exception() {