diff --git a/stores/metadata_test.go b/stores/metadata_test.go
index 4b3395dcd..59feb2cc1 100644
--- a/stores/metadata_test.go
+++ b/stores/metadata_test.go
@@ -4127,7 +4127,13 @@ func TestSlabCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 		HealthValidUntil: 100,
 	}
 	if err := ss.db.Create(&bufferedSlab).Error; err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
+		if strings.Contains(err.Error(), "database table is locked") {
+			time.Sleep(time.Second) // wait for slabs to be pruned in the background
+			err = ss.db.Create(&bufferedSlab).Error
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
 	}
 	obj3 := dbObject{
 		ObjectID:   "3",