diff --git a/internal/server/http/pending_drain_test.go b/internal/server/http/pending_drain_test.go
index a216c25..0cec822 100644
--- a/internal/server/http/pending_drain_test.go
+++ b/internal/server/http/pending_drain_test.go
@@ -145,7 +145,12 @@ func TestDrainPendingDispatchesOnReconnect(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("backup tag: %q", got.Tag)
 	}
 
-	// Pending row should be gone.
+	// Pending row should be gone. Poll briefly: the drain goroutine
+	// sends command.run via conn.Send and only then calls
+	// DeletePendingRun. Reading the envelope off the wire above proves
+	// the send happened, but the delete runs after that on the drain
+	// goroutine — small window where the count is still 1.
+	waitForPendingCount(t, st, hostID, 0, 2*time.Second)
 	if n := countPendingForHost(t, st, hostID); n != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("pending rows after drain: got %d, want 0", n)
 	}