diff --git a/staticlibs/testutils/host/python/apf_test_base.py b/staticlibs/testutils/host/python/apf_test_base.py
index a9ebca959e..5530437598 100644
--- a/staticlibs/testutils/host/python/apf_test_base.py
+++ b/staticlibs/testutils/host/python/apf_test_base.py
@@ -145,10 +145,14 @@ class ApfTestBase(multi_devices_test_base.MultiDevicesTestBase):
       )
 
       assert_utils.expect_with_retry(
-          lambda: apf_utils.get_matched_packet_counts(
-              self.serverDevice, self.server_iface_name, receive_packet
-          )
-          == 1
+          lambda: {
+              apf_utils.get_matched_packet_counts(
+                  self.serverDevice, self.server_iface_name, receive_packet
+              )
+              == 1
+          },
+          # ensure the server device capturing the offload packet on the handler thread
+          retry_interval_sec=3,
       )
 
       # TODO: re-enable once the test passes reliably.