diff --git a/les/test_helper.go b/les/test_helper.go
index 23f8319e95..1f02d25299 100644
--- a/les/test_helper.go
+++ b/les/test_helper.go
@@ -542,8 +542,8 @@ func newClientServerEnv(t *testing.T, blocks int, protocol int, callback indexer
 		}
 		select {
 		case <-done:
-		case <-time.NewTimer(time.Second * 3).C:
-			t.Fatal("Timeout")
+		case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
+			t.Fatal("test peer did not connect and sync within 3s")
 		}
 	}
 	s := &testServer{