diff --git a/tests/applications/gnome-text-editor/aaa_setup.pm b/tests/applications/gnome-text-editor/aaa_setup.pm
index 90b06d5a..34fe7fed 100644
--- a/tests/applications/gnome-text-editor/aaa_setup.pm
+++ b/tests/applications/gnome-text-editor/aaa_setup.pm
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ sub run {
     # Set the document language to English in order
     # to have the spelling control correct.
     assert_and_click("gte_line_word", button => "right");
+    # the context menu can change while it's loading, so we need to be careful
+    assert_screen("gte_context_languages");
+    wait_still_screen 3;
     assert_and_click("gte_context_languages");
     assert_and_click("gte_context_language_english");
 }