diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh
index 7989ec608454..cb55a908bb0d 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh
@@ -305,6 +305,7 @@ else
 	client_connect
 	verify_data
 	server_listen
+	wait_for_port ${port} ${netcat_opt}
 fi
 
 # serverside, use BPF for decap