diff --git a/spec/02-integration/02-cmd/13-signals_spec.lua b/spec/02-integration/02-cmd/13-signals_spec.lua
index 21287489020..9f9c9e38c1b 100644
--- a/spec/02-integration/02-cmd/13-signals_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/02-integration/02-cmd/13-signals_spec.lua
@@ -15,12 +15,10 @@ describe("signals", function()
     assert(helpers.start_kong())
     helpers.signal(nil, "-USR1")
 
-    helpers.wait_until(function()
-      local conf = helpers.get_running_conf()
-      local _, code = helpers.execute("grep -F '(SIGUSR1) received from' " ..
-                                      conf.nginx_err_logs, true)
-      return 0 == code, "SIGUSR1 not received"
-    end)
+    local conf = helpers.get_running_conf()
+    local _, code = helpers.execute("grep -F '(SIGUSR1) received from' " ..
+                                     conf.nginx_err_logs, true)
+    assert.equal(0, code)
   end)
 
   it("can receive USR2 #flaky", function()