diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh
index 365a2c7a89ba..8766e88b5a40 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/test_tc_tunnel.sh
@@ -296,6 +296,7 @@ else
 	client_connect
 	verify_data
 	server_listen
+	wait_for_port ${port} ${netcat_opt}
 fi
 
 # bpf_skb_net_shrink does not take tunnel flags yet, cannot update L3.