diff --git a/modules/libcom/test/fdManagerTest.cpp b/modules/libcom/test/fdManagerTest.cpp
index 0dc1b330c..ae9f5f79b 100644
--- a/modules/libcom/test/fdManagerTest.cpp
+++ b/modules/libcom/test/fdManagerTest.cpp
@@ -216,7 +216,8 @@ void testOnlyTimer()
     epicsTime now(epicsTime::getCurrent());
     trig_timer.timer.start(trig, now+0.1);
     never_timer.timer.start(never, now+9999999.0);
-    mgr.process(0.2);
+    for(unsigned i=0; i<10 && !trig.expired; i++)
+        mgr.process(0.2);
     testOk1(trig.expired);
     testOk1(!never.expired);
 }