diff --git a/system_tests/pubsub.py b/system_tests/pubsub.py
index 30d0fd5de3d9..fff5e9153bc0 100644
--- a/system_tests/pubsub.py
+++ b/system_tests/pubsub.py
@@ -280,8 +280,8 @@ def _found_orphan(result):
         def _no_topic(instance):
             return instance.topic is None
 
-        # Wait for the topic to clear: up to 63 seconds (2 ** 6 - 1)
-        retry_until_no_topic = RetryInstanceState(_no_topic, max_tries=7)
+        # Wait for the topic to clear: up to 127 seconds (2 ** 7 - 1)
+        retry_until_no_topic = RetryInstanceState(_no_topic, max_tries=8)
         retry_until_no_topic(orphaned.reload)()
 
         self.assertTrue(orphaned.topic is None)