diff --git a/tests/python/core/cloudxr/test_background.py b/tests/python/core/cloudxr/test_background.py
index 07d1d5dcf0..6f94a0c687 100644
--- a/tests/python/core/cloudxr/test_background.py
+++ b/tests/python/core/cloudxr/test_background.py
@@ -58,7 +58,15 @@ def test_recognises_a_service_under_any_shipped_module_name(self, tmp_path, modu
         )
         try:
             background.pid_path(str(tmp_path)).write_text(f"{proc.pid}\n")
-            assert background.read_pid(str(tmp_path)) == proc.pid
+            # A freshly spawned pid's /proc/<pid>/cmdline isn't guaranteed to be
+            # populated the instant Popen() returns, especially on a loaded CI
+            # runner - poll briefly instead of asserting on the very first read.
+            deadline = time.monotonic() + 2.0
+            pid = background.read_pid(str(tmp_path))
+            while pid is None and time.monotonic() < deadline:
+                time.sleep(0.05)
+                pid = background.read_pid(str(tmp_path))
+            assert pid == proc.pid
         finally:
             proc.kill()
             proc.wait()