diff --git a/tests/nbd/test-nbd.pl b/tests/nbd/test-nbd.pl
index 1c8e0b2ef..c7361fd0a 100755
--- a/tests/nbd/test-nbd.pl
+++ b/tests/nbd/test-nbd.pl
@@ -74,17 +74,17 @@ sub run_test {
         die "qemu-nbd: $!";
     }
 
+    # XXX qemu-nbd lacks any way to tell if it is awake and listening
+    # for connections.  It could write a pid file or something.  Could
+    # we check that the socket has been opened by looking in netstat?
+    sleep (2);
+
     my $g = Sys::Guestfs->new ();
 
     # Add an NBD drive.
     $g->add_drive ("", readonly => $readonly, format => "raw",
                    protocol => "nbd", server => [$server]);
 
-    # XXX qemu-nbd lacks any way to tell if it is awake and listening
-    # for connections.  It could write a pid file or something.  Could
-    # we check that the socket has been opened by looking in netstat?
-    sleep (2);
-
     # This dies if qemu cannot connect to the NBD server.
     $g->launch ();