diff --git a/tests/test_intl.py b/tests/test_intl.py
index 05e98c3e781..a07ebfb63b8 100644
--- a/tests/test_intl.py
+++ b/tests/test_intl.py
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ def get_update_targets(app_):
     # phase1: build document with non-gettext builder and generate mo file in srcdir
     app0 = make_app('dummy', *args, **kwargs)
     app0.build()
-    time.sleep(1)
+    time.sleep(0.01)
     assert (app0.srcdir / 'xx' / 'LC_MESSAGES' / 'bom.mo').exists()
     # Since it is after the build, the number of documents to be updated is 0
     update_targets = get_update_targets(app0)