diff --git a/pkg/controller/job/job_controller_test.go b/pkg/controller/job/job_controller_test.go
index 914949cb36b..a1d5a63073d 100644
--- a/pkg/controller/job/job_controller_test.go
+++ b/pkg/controller/job/job_controller_test.go
@@ -4676,10 +4676,11 @@ func TestJobApiBackoffReset(t *testing.T) {
 	if retries != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("%s: expected exactly 1 retry, got %d", job.Name, retries)
 	}
+	// await for the actual requeue after processing of the pending queue is done
+	awaitForQueueLen(ctx, t, manager, 1)
 
 	// the queue is emptied on success
 	fakePodControl.Err = nil
-	manager.clock.Sleep(fastJobApiBackoff)
 	manager.processNextWorkItem(context.TODO())
 	verifyEmptyQueue(ctx, t, manager)
 }