diff --git a/site-cookbooks/ntp/files/default/test/default_test.rb b/site-cookbooks/ntp/files/default/test/default_test.rb
index f6af556..ee4d795 100644
--- a/site-cookbooks/ntp/files/default/test/default_test.rb
+++ b/site-cookbooks/ntp/files/default/test/default_test.rb
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@ require 'minitest/spec'
 
 describe_recipe 'ntp::default' do
   it "starts the ntp daemon" do
-    assert_sh("service ntp status")
+    # ugly workaround because of race condition
+    assert_sh("sleep 3 && kill -0 $(cat /var/run/ntpd.pid)")
   end
   it "should sync the time" do
     assert_sh("ntpq -p")