diff --git a/v2/cdc-parent/cdc-change-applier/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/dataflow/cdc/applier/CdcToBigQueryChangeApplierPipelineIT.java b/v2/cdc-parent/cdc-change-applier/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/dataflow/cdc/applier/CdcToBigQueryChangeApplierPipelineIT.java
index 27a398273d..8279d5135e 100644
--- a/v2/cdc-parent/cdc-change-applier/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/dataflow/cdc/applier/CdcToBigQueryChangeApplierPipelineIT.java
+++ b/v2/cdc-parent/cdc-change-applier/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/dataflow/cdc/applier/CdcToBigQueryChangeApplierPipelineIT.java
@@ -223,9 +223,13 @@ private void testDebeziumCdcToBigQuery(boolean singleTopicMode) throws Exception
         LOG.info("Debezium process status: {}", embeddedConnector.isAlive());
 
         if (!embeddedConnector.isAlive()) {
-          throw new IllegalStateException("Debezium hasn't started");
+          TimeUnit.SECONDS.sleep(5);
+        } else {
+          break;
         }
-        TimeUnit.SECONDS.sleep(5);
+      }
+      if (!embeddedConnector.isAlive()) {
+        throw new IllegalStateException("Debezium hasn't started");
       }
       LOG.info("Debezium connector successfully started!");