diff --git a/micro-curator/src/integration/java/com/aol/micro/server/curator/lock/IntegrationTest.java b/micro-curator/src/integration/java/com/aol/micro/server/curator/lock/IntegrationTest.java
index e6974c67e..dd5be2033 100644
--- a/micro-curator/src/integration/java/com/aol/micro/server/curator/lock/IntegrationTest.java
+++ b/micro-curator/src/integration/java/com/aol/micro/server/curator/lock/IntegrationTest.java
@@ -48,6 +48,12 @@ public void initialize() {
             }
         }).start();
 
+        try {
+            // allow zooKeeperServer enough time to initialize
+            Thread.sleep(1000);
+        } catch (InterruptedException e) {
+        }
+
         provider = new CuratorDistributedLockServiceProvider("localhost:12181", "1000", "1", "/test");
     }