diff --git a/parsl/tests/test_htex/test_drain.py b/parsl/tests/test_htex/test_drain.py
index da115b42f0..5f8e86e4b7 100644
--- a/parsl/tests/test_htex/test_drain.py
+++ b/parsl/tests/test_htex/test_drain.py
@@ -15,6 +15,8 @@
 # last twice that many number of seconds.
 TIME_CONST = 1
 
+CONNECTED_MANAGERS_POLL_MS = 100
+
 
 def local_config():
     return Config(
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ def test_drain(try_assert):
 
     # wait till we have a block running...
 
-    try_assert(lambda: len(htex.connected_managers()) == 1)
+    try_assert(lambda: len(htex.connected_managers()) == 1, check_period_ms=CONNECTED_MANAGERS_POLL_MS)
 
     managers = htex.connected_managers()
     assert managers[0]['active'], "The manager should be active"
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ def test_drain(try_assert):
     time.sleep(TIME_CONST)
 
     # this assert should happen *very fast* after the above delay...
-    try_assert(lambda: htex.connected_managers()[0]['draining'], timeout_ms=500)
+    try_assert(lambda: htex.connected_managers()[0]['draining'], timeout_ms=500, check_period_ms=CONNECTED_MANAGERS_POLL_MS)
 
     # and the test task should still be running...
     assert not fut.done(), "The test task should still be running"
@@ -76,4 +78,4 @@ def test_drain(try_assert):
     # connected managers.
     # As with the above draining assert, this should happen very fast after
     # the task ends.
-    try_assert(lambda: len(htex.connected_managers()) == 0, timeout_ms=500)
+    try_assert(lambda: len(htex.connected_managers()) == 0, timeout_ms=500, check_period_ms=CONNECTED_MANAGERS_POLL_MS)