diff --git a/tests/queries/0_stateless/00980_alter_settings_race.sh b/tests/queries/0_stateless/00980_alter_settings_race.sh
index 3a9e854210d..edcff4c7f0c 100755
--- a/tests/queries/0_stateless/00980_alter_settings_race.sh
+++ b/tests/queries/0_stateless/00980_alter_settings_race.sh
@@ -26,7 +26,12 @@ done &
 
 sleep 4
 
-# we just test race conditions, not logic
+# if we have too many simultaneous queries
+until $CLICKHOUSE_CLIENT --query "SELECT 1" 2>/dev/null 1>/dev/null
+do
+    sleep 0.5
+done
+
 $CLICKHOUSE_CLIENT --query "SELECT 1"
 
 $CLICKHOUSE_CLIENT --query="DROP TABLE IF EXISTS table_for_concurrent_alter"