diff --git a/akka-testkit/src/test/scala/akka/testkit/Coroner.scala b/akka-testkit/src/test/scala/akka/testkit/Coroner.scala
index 675d8e6ffa..40e5126579 100644
--- a/akka-testkit/src/test/scala/akka/testkit/Coroner.scala
+++ b/akka-testkit/src/test/scala/akka/testkit/Coroner.scala
@@ -144,6 +144,11 @@ object Coroner {
                 #Heap usage: ${memMx.getHeapMemoryUsage()}
                 #Non-heap usage: ${memMx.getNonHeapMemoryUsage()}""".stripMargin('#'))
 
+    // If we look too soon, we've seen the JVM report a thread
+    // (in that case deadlock-thread-a from CoronerSpec)
+    // waiting on the lock while no thread seemed to be holding it
+    Thread.sleep(300)
+
     def dumpAllThreads: Seq[ThreadInfo] =
       threadMx.dumpAllThreads(threadMx.isObjectMonitorUsageSupported, threadMx.isSynchronizerUsageSupported).toSeq