diff --git a/stdlib/FileWatching/test/runtests.jl b/stdlib/FileWatching/test/runtests.jl
index 42d8db1bfb7b8..f1552a1571c86 100644
--- a/stdlib/FileWatching/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/stdlib/FileWatching/test/runtests.jl
@@ -321,8 +321,8 @@ function test_dirmonitor_wait2(tval)
     end
     @sync begin
         @async begin
-            sleep(tval)
             for i = 1:3
+                sleep(tval)
                 rm("$file$i")
             end
         end