diff --git a/test/nodes/core/function/10-function_spec.js b/test/nodes/core/function/10-function_spec.js
index d11d67b11..7a5f2950b 100644
--- a/test/nodes/core/function/10-function_spec.js
+++ b/test/nodes/core/function/10-function_spec.js
@@ -1719,6 +1719,9 @@ describe('function node', function() {
 
         it('should delay handling messages until init completes', function(done) {
             const timeout_ms = 200;
+            // Since helper.load uses process.nextTick timers might occasionally finish
+            // a couple of milliseconds too early, so give some leeway to the check.
+            const timeout_check_margin = 5;
             var flow = [{id:"n1",type:"function",wires:[["n2"]],initialize: `
                 return new Promise((resolve,reject) => {
                     setTimeout(resolve, ${timeout_ms});
@@ -1735,9 +1738,9 @@ describe('function node', function() {
                     receivedMsgs.push(msg)
                     if (receivedMsgs.length === 5) {
                         let deltas = receivedMsgs.map(msg => msg.delta);
-                        var errors = deltas.filter(delta => delta < timeout_ms)
+                        var errors = deltas.filter(delta => delta < (timeout_ms - timeout_check_margin))
                         if (errors.length > 0) {
-                            done(new Error(`Message received before init completed - delta values ${JSON.stringify(deltas)} expected to be > ${timeout_ms}`))
+                            done(new Error(`Message received before init completed - delta values ${JSON.stringify(deltas)} expected to be > ${timeout_ms - timeout_check_margin}`))
                         } else {
                             done();
                         }