diff --git a/test/mail_lmtp_ip.bats b/test/mail_lmtp_ip.bats
index 241a9704..8fb7399c 100644
--- a/test/mail_lmtp_ip.bats
+++ b/test/mail_lmtp_ip.bats
@@ -44,7 +44,9 @@ teardown_file() {
   run docker exec mail_lmtp_ip /bin/sh -c "nc 0.0.0.0 25 < /tmp/docker-mailserver-test/email-templates/existing-user1.txt"
   assert_success
   
-  repeat_until_success_or_timeout 60 run docker exec mail_lmtp_ip /bin/sh -c "grep 'postfix/lmtp' /var/log/mail/mail.log | grep 'status=sent' | grep ' Saved)' | wc -l"
+  # polling needs to avoid wc -l's unconditionally successful return status
+  repeat_until_success_or_timeout 60 run docker exec mail_lmtp_ip /bin/sh -c "grep 'postfix/lmtp' /var/log/mail/mail.log | grep 'status=sent' | grep ' Saved)'"
+  run docker exec mail_lmtp_ip /bin/sh -c "grep 'postfix/lmtp' /var/log/mail/mail.log | grep 'status=sent' | grep ' Saved)' | wc -l"
   assert_success
   assert_output 1
 }