diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/pod_workers_test.go b/pkg/kubelet/pod_workers_test.go
index 98931b5a6ec..c06d77bb592 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/pod_workers_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/pod_workers_test.go
@@ -852,6 +852,8 @@ func TestStaticPodExclusion(t *testing.T) {
 		Pod:        newNamedPod("5-static", "test1", "pod1", true),
 		UpdateType: kubetypes.SyncPodUpdate,
 	})
+	// Wait for the previous work to be delivered to the worker
+	drainAllWorkers(podWorkers)
 	channels.Channel("5-static").Hold()
 	podWorkers.UpdatePod(UpdatePodOptions{
 		Pod:        newNamedPod("5-static", "test1", "pod1", true),