diff --git a/test/functional/p2p_ibd_stalling.py b/test/functional/p2p_ibd_stalling.py
index 11cd8837f46..fa078739293 100755
--- a/test/functional/p2p_ibd_stalling.py
+++ b/test/functional/p2p_ibd_stalling.py
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ class P2PIBDStallingTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
         peers = []
 
         self.log.info("Check that a staller does not get disconnected if the 1024 block lookahead buffer is filled")
+        self.mocktime = int(time.time()) + 1
         for id in range(NUM_PEERS):
             peers.append(node.add_outbound_p2p_connection(P2PStaller(stall_block), p2p_idx=id, connection_type="outbound-full-relay"))
             peers[-1].block_store = block_dict
@@ -85,7 +86,7 @@ class P2PIBDStallingTest(BitcoinTestFramework):
 
         self.all_sync_send_with_ping(peers)
         # If there was a peer marked for stalling, it would get disconnected
-        self.mocktime = int(time.time()) + 3
+        self.mocktime += 3
         node.setmocktime(self.mocktime)
         self.all_sync_send_with_ping(peers)
         assert_equal(node.num_test_p2p_connections(), NUM_PEERS)