diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/deadman/deadman_sync.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/deadman/deadman_sync.ksh
index b0b03f5d52..fd6e8c858e 100755
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/deadman/deadman_sync.ksh
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/deadman/deadman_sync.ksh
@@ -80,10 +80,10 @@ else
 fi
 log_must zpool events
 
-# Verify at least 5 deadman events were logged.  The first after 5 seconds,
+# Verify at least 4 deadman events were logged.  The first after 5 seconds,
 # and another each second thereafter until the delay  is clearer.
 events=$(zpool events | grep -c ereport.fs.zfs.deadman)
-if [ "$events" -lt 5 ]; then
+if [ "$events" -lt 4 ]; then
 	log_fail "Expect >=5 deadman events, $events found"
 fi