diff --git a/test/images/agnhost/Dockerfile b/test/images/agnhost/Dockerfile
index 3cfe56c9cb2..65c783d6490 100644
--- a/test/images/agnhost/Dockerfile
+++ b/test/images/agnhost/Dockerfile
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ CROSS_BUILD_COPY qemu-QEMUARCH-static /usr/bin/
 # - iproute2: includes ss used in NodePort tests
 # from iperf image
 # install necessary packages: iperf, bash
-RUN apk --update add bind-tools curl netcat-openbsd iproute2 iperf bash && rm -rf /var/cache/apk/* \
+RUN retry () { i=0; while [ $i -lt 9 ]; do "$@" && return || sleep 30; i="${i+1}"; done; "$@"; } \
+  && retry apk --update add bind-tools curl netcat-openbsd iproute2 iperf bash && rm -rf /var/cache/apk/* \
   && ln -s /usr/bin/iperf /usr/local/bin/iperf \
   && ls -altrh /usr/local/bin/iperf