diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/include/libtest.shlib b/tests/zfs-tests/include/libtest.shlib
index d72ebc8edc..14348d7c60 100644
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/include/libtest.shlib
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/include/libtest.shlib
@@ -2296,7 +2296,7 @@ function del_user #<logname> <basedir>
 	fi
 
 	if id $user > /dev/null 2>&1; then
-		log_must userdel $user
+		log_must_retry "currently used" 5 userdel $user
 	fi
 
 	[[ -d $basedir/$user ]] && rm -fr $basedir/$user