diff --git a/tests/by-util/test_tail.rs b/tests/by-util/test_tail.rs
index c7c2a0bcd23..0d328dfd724 100644
--- a/tests/by-util/test_tail.rs
+++ b/tests/by-util/test_tail.rs
@@ -647,7 +647,11 @@ fn test_follow_name_multiple() {
             .arg(FOOBAR_2_TXT)
             .run_no_wait();
 
+        #[cfg(target_os = "linux")]
         let delay = 100;
+        // unstable on macOS
+        #[cfg(not(target_os = "linux"))]
+        let delay = 1000;
 
         child
             .make_assertion_with_delay(delay)