diff --git a/apps/files_external/tests/Storage/SmbTest.php b/apps/files_external/tests/Storage/SmbTest.php
index e3c0408114..562ac6c8e5 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/tests/Storage/SmbTest.php
+++ b/apps/files_external/tests/Storage/SmbTest.php
@@ -102,7 +102,14 @@ class SmbTest extends \Test\Files\Storage\Storage {
 		$this->instance->unlink('/renamed.txt');
 		sleep(1); //time for all changes to be processed
 
-		$changes = $notifyHandler->getChanges();
+		$changes = [];
+		$count = 0;
+		// wait up to 10 seconds for incoming changes
+		while (count($changes) < 3 && $count < 10) {
+			$changes = array_merge($changes, $notifyHandler->getChanges());
+			$count++;
+			sleep(1);
+		}
 		$notifyHandler->stop();
 
 		$expected = [