diff --git a/test/functional/abc-p2p-avalanche.py b/test/functional/abc-p2p-avalanche.py
--- a/test/functional/abc-p2p-avalanche.py
+++ b/test/functional/abc-p2p-avalanche.py
@@ -12,7 +12,11 @@
     msg_avapoll,
 )
 from test_framework.test_framework import BitcoinTestFramework
-from test_framework.util import assert_equal, wait_until
+from test_framework.util import (
+    assert_equal,
+    sync_blocks,
+    wait_until,
+)
 from test_framework import schnorr
 
 
@@ -84,6 +88,10 @@
         address = node.get_deterministic_priv_key().address
         node.generatetoaddress(100, address)
 
+        fork_node = self.nodes[1]
+        # Make sure the fork node has synced the blocks
+        sync_blocks([node, fork_node])
+
         # Get the key so we can verify signatures.
         avakey = bytes.fromhex(node.getavalanchekey())
 
@@ -167,9 +175,8 @@
 
         node.addavalanchepeer(nodeid, pubkey.hex())
 
-        # Sanity check
-        fork_node = self.nodes[1]
-        assert_equal(node.getbestblockhash(), fork_node.getbestblockhash())
+        # Make sure the fork node has synced the blocks
+        sync_blocks([node, fork_node])
 
         # Create a fork 2 blocks deep. This should trigger polling.
         fork_node.invalidateblock(fork_node.getblockhash(100))