diff --git a/tests/t_net.sh b/tests/t_net.sh
index 18799d12..97e947ab 100755
--- a/tests/t_net.sh
+++ b/tests/t_net.sh
@@ -34,6 +34,13 @@ reload_dummy()
 {
     $RUN_SUDO $openvpn --dev $IFACE --dev-type tun --rmtun >/dev/null
     $RUN_SUDO $openvpn --dev $IFACE --dev-type tun --mktun >/dev/null
+
+    # it seems that tun devices will settle on NO-CARRIER while not connected to
+    # any process, but this won't happen immediately. To avoid having the
+    # NO-CARRIER bit appear in the middle of the tests - which would compromise
+    # the results - let's wait 1 sec here for it to settle.
+    sleep 1
+
     if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
         echo "can't create interface $IFACE"
         exit 1