diff --git a/features/apt_messages.feature b/features/apt_messages.feature
index 60d5629dd9..f5a2d6ce9d 100644
--- a/features/apt_messages.feature
+++ b/features/apt_messages.feature
@@ -336,6 +336,8 @@ Feature: APT Messages
         When I run `rm /var/lib/apt/periodic/update-success-stamp` with sudo
         When I run `apt-get update` with sudo
         When I run `apt upgrade` with sudo
+        # the apt-news.service unit runs in the background, give it some time to fetch the json file
+        When I wait `5` seconds
         Then I will see the following on stdout
         """
         Reading package lists...