diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/sch_red_core.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/sch_red_core.sh
index a25a15eb6d31..b1ff395b3880 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/sch_red_core.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/drivers/net/mlxsw/sch_red_core.sh
@@ -372,6 +372,7 @@ build_backlog()
 	local i=0
 
 	while :; do
+		sleep 1
 		local cur=$(busywait 1100 until_counter_is "> $cur" \
 					    get_qdisc_backlog $vlan)
 		local diff=$((size - cur))