diff --git a/activemq-core/src/test/java/org/apache/activemq/usecases/ThreeBrokerQueueNetworkTest.java b/activemq-core/src/test/java/org/apache/activemq/usecases/ThreeBrokerQueueNetworkTest.java
index a0adb064e5..6beb710a0a 100644
--- a/activemq-core/src/test/java/org/apache/activemq/usecases/ThreeBrokerQueueNetworkTest.java
+++ b/activemq-core/src/test/java/org/apache/activemq/usecases/ThreeBrokerQueueNetworkTest.java
@@ -28,12 +28,10 @@ import javax.jms.Destination;
 import javax.jms.MessageConsumer;
 
 import org.apache.activemq.JmsMultipleBrokersTestSupport;
-import org.apache.activemq.JmsMultipleBrokersTestSupport.BrokerItem;
 import org.apache.activemq.broker.Broker;
 import org.apache.activemq.broker.BrokerFilter;
 import org.apache.activemq.broker.BrokerPlugin;
 import org.apache.activemq.broker.BrokerService;
-import org.apache.activemq.broker.ConnectionContext;
 import org.apache.activemq.broker.region.Queue;
 import org.apache.activemq.broker.region.RegionBroker;
 import org.apache.activemq.broker.region.Subscription;
@@ -50,7 +48,12 @@ import org.apache.commons.logging.LogFactory;
 public class ThreeBrokerQueueNetworkTest extends JmsMultipleBrokersTestSupport {
     private static final Log LOG = LogFactory.getLog(ThreeBrokerQueueNetworkTest.class);
     protected static final int MESSAGE_COUNT = 100;
+    private static final long MAX_WAIT_MILLIS = 10000;
 
+    interface Condition {
+        boolean isSatisified() throws Exception;
+    }
+    
     /**
      * BrokerA -> BrokerB -> BrokerC
      */
@@ -280,14 +283,31 @@ public class ThreeBrokerQueueNetworkTest extends JmsMultipleBrokersTestSupport {
         Thread.sleep(1000);
 
         // Get message count
-        MessageIdList msgsA = getConsumerMessages("BrokerA", clientA);
+        final MessageIdList msgsA = getConsumerMessages("BrokerA", clientA);
         MessageIdList msgsB = getConsumerMessages("BrokerB", clientB);
         MessageIdList msgsC = getConsumerMessages("BrokerC", clientC);
 
+        waitFor(new Condition() {
+            public boolean isSatisified() {
+                return msgsA.getMessageCount() == MESSAGE_COUNT;
+            } 
+        });
+        
         assertEquals(MESSAGE_COUNT * 3, msgsA.getMessageCount() + msgsB.getMessageCount() + msgsC.getMessageCount());
     }
 
-    
+    // on slow machines some more waiting is required on account of slow advisories
+    private void waitFor(Condition condition) throws Exception {
+        final long expiry = System.currentTimeMillis() + MAX_WAIT_MILLIS;
+        while (!condition.isSatisified() && System.currentTimeMillis() < expiry) {
+            Thread.sleep(1000);
+        }   
+        if (System.currentTimeMillis() >= expiry) {
+            LOG.error("expired while waiting for condition " + condition);
+        }
+        
+    }
+
     public void testAllConnectedUsingMulticastProducerConsumerOnA() throws Exception {
         bridgeAllBrokers("default", 3, false);
         startAllBrokers();
@@ -551,8 +571,13 @@ public class ThreeBrokerQueueNetworkTest extends JmsMultipleBrokersTestSupport {
         }
     }
 
-    private void verifyConsumerCount(BrokerService broker, int count, Destination dest) throws Exception {
-        RegionBroker regionBroker = (RegionBroker) broker.getRegionBroker();
+    private void verifyConsumerCount(BrokerService broker, int count, final Destination dest) throws Exception {
+        final RegionBroker regionBroker = (RegionBroker) broker.getRegionBroker();
+        waitFor(new Condition() {
+            public boolean isSatisified() throws Exception {
+                return !regionBroker.getDestinations(ActiveMQDestination.transform(dest)).isEmpty();
+            }
+        });
         Queue internalQueue = (Queue) regionBroker.getDestinations(ActiveMQDestination.transform(dest)).iterator().next();
         assertEquals("consumer count on " + broker.getBrokerName() + " matches for q: " + internalQueue, count, internalQueue.getConsumers().size());      
     }