diff --git a/scripts/tests/test-rpc.js b/scripts/tests/test-rpc.js
index 70ea13053..f655f7888 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/test-rpc.js
+++ b/scripts/tests/test-rpc.js
@@ -159,6 +159,9 @@ var createUser = function (config, cb) {
             }
             wc.leave();
         }));
+    }).nThen(function (w) {
+        // give the server time to write your mailbox data before checking that it's correct
+        setTimeout(w(), 500);
     }).nThen(function (w) {
         // confirm that you own your mailbox
         user.anonRpc.send("GET_METADATA", user.mailboxChannel, w(function (err, data) {