diff --git a/testutil/wait.go b/testutil/wait.go
index 45e23e6b5..6ab3ea472 100644
--- a/testutil/wait.go
+++ b/testutil/wait.go
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ type rpcFn func(string, interface{}, interface{}) error
 func WaitForLeader(t testing.T, rpc rpcFn) {
 	WaitForResult(func() (bool, error) {
 		args := &structs.GenericRequest{}
+		args.AllowStale = true
 		var leader string
 		err := rpc("Status.Leader", args, &leader)
 		return leader != "", err