diff --git a/tests/qtest/migration-test.c b/tests/qtest/migration-test.c
index 32e31fff86..e61096adfe 100644
--- a/tests/qtest/migration-test.c
+++ b/tests/qtest/migration-test.c
@@ -1413,6 +1413,12 @@ static void postcopy_recover_fail(QTestState *from, QTestState *to)
     migrate_recover(to, "fd:fd-mig");
     migrate_qmp(from, to, "fd:fd-mig", NULL, "{'resume': true}");
 
+    /*
+     * Source QEMU has an extra RECOVER_SETUP phase, dest doesn't have it.
+     * Make sure it appears along the way.
+     */
+    migration_event_wait(from, "postcopy-recover-setup");
+
     /*
      * Make sure both QEMU instances will go into RECOVER stage, then test
      * kicking them out using migrate-pause.