diff --git a/src/v/kafka/server/tests/fetch_test.cc b/src/v/kafka/server/tests/fetch_test.cc
index 86d73337b044..bc63927dd6bd 100644
--- a/src/v/kafka/server/tests/fetch_test.cc
+++ b/src/v/kafka/server/tests/fetch_test.cc
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ FIXTURE_TEST(fetch_leader_epoch, redpanda_thread_fixture) {
                   .get0();
             }
             partition->raft()->step_down("trigger epoch change").get0();
-            wait_for_leader(ntp).get0();
+            wait_for_leader(ntp, 10s).get0();
             {
                 auto batches = model::test::make_random_batches(
                   model::offset(0), 5);