diff --git a/tests/motion/g0/test.sh b/tests/motion/g0/test.sh
index 0a7f9c2630b..b54482c459d 100755
--- a/tests/motion/g0/test.sh
+++ b/tests/motion/g0/test.sh
@@ -23,6 +23,21 @@ wait_for_pin() {
 linuxcnc motion-test.ini &
 linuxcncpid=$!
 
+# let linuxcnc come up
+TOGO=80
+while [  $TOGO -gt 0 ]; do
+    echo trying to connect to linuxcncrsh TOGO=$TOGO
+    if nc -z localhost 5007; then
+        break
+    fi
+    sleep 0.25
+    TOGO=$(($TOGO - 1))
+done
+if [  $TOGO -eq 0 ]; then
+    echo connection to linuxcncrsh timed out
+    exit 1
+fi
+
 wait_for_pin motion.in-position TRUE
 
 echo starting to capture data