diff --git a/tests/desktop_login.pm b/tests/desktop_login.pm
index 4f08a1e5..789bd6b9 100644
--- a/tests/desktop_login.pm
+++ b/tests/desktop_login.pm
@@ -234,7 +234,11 @@ sub run {
     # Try to log in with either account, intentionally entering the wrong password.
     login_user(user => "jack", password => "wrongpassword", checklogin => 0);
     # get back to the login screen if necessary (dismiss an error message)
-    send_key 'esc' unless (check_screen "login_jim");
+    my $counter = 5;
+    while (! check_screen("login_jim")) {
+        last if ($counter <= 0);
+        send_key("esc");
+    }
 
     # Now, log into the system again using the correct password. This will
     # only work if we were correctly denied login with the wrong password,