diff --git a/ceph-remove-node.groovy b/ceph-remove-node.groovy
index 21671bf..bc0b09d 100644
--- a/ceph-remove-node.groovy
+++ b/ceph-remove-node.groovy
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@
         // wait for healthy cluster
         if (WAIT_FOR_HEALTHY.toBoolean() == true) {
             stage('Waiting for healthy cluster') {
+                sleep(5)
                 while (true) {
                     def health = runCephCommand(pepperEnv, ADMIN_HOST, 'ceph health')['return'][0].values()[0]
                     if (health.contains('HEALTH_OK')) {