diff --git a/tests/gc-runtime.sh b/tests/gc-runtime.sh
index 5a6e0da8cd..7a50f9f41b 100644
--- a/tests/gc-runtime.sh
+++ b/tests/gc-runtime.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ echo $outPath
 
 echo "backgrounding program..."
 $profiles/test/program &
+sleep 2 # hack - wait for the program to get started
 child=$!
 echo PID=$child