diff --git a/tests/role_deploy_domain_controller_check.pm b/tests/role_deploy_domain_controller_check.pm
index f4991c20..16a14476 100644
--- a/tests/role_deploy_domain_controller_check.pm
+++ b/tests/role_deploy_domain_controller_check.pm
@@ -47,8 +47,10 @@ sub run {
         assert_script_run '! systemctl is-active ipa.service';
         # decommission the server
         assert_script_run 'ipa-server-install -U --uninstall', 300;
-        # try and un-garble the screen that the above garbles...
-        assert_script_run 'clear';
+        # try and un-garble the screen that the above sometimes garbles
+        # ...we may be on tty1 or tty3 now, so flip between them
+        send_key "ctrl-alt-f1";
+        send_key "ctrl-alt-f3";
         # FIXME check server is decommissioned...how?
     }
 }