diff --git a/openc3/python/test/api/test_cmd_api.py b/openc3/python/test/api/test_cmd_api.py
index 14d68076af..821b2442e5 100644
--- a/openc3/python/test/api/test_cmd_api.py
+++ b/openc3/python/test/api/test_cmd_api.py
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@
 from openc3.models.microservice_model import MicroserviceModel
 from openc3.packets.packet import Packet
 from openc3.top_level import HazardousError
+from openc3.utilities.store import EphemeralStore
 from test.test_helper import capture_io, mock_redis, setup_system
 
 
@@ -108,7 +109,15 @@ def xread_side_effect(*args, **kwargs):
 
         self.icht = InterfaceCmdHandlerThread(self.interface, None, scope="DEFAULT")
         self.thread = self.icht.start()
-        time.sleep(0.001)
+        # The handler thread starts reading from the newest message the first time it reads a topic.
+        # Wait for it to record its offsets or a command written before then is never seen (and acked).
+        offsets = EphemeralStore.instance().topic_offsets
+        cmd_topic = "{DEFAULT__CMD}TARGET__INST"
+        deadline = time.time() + 5
+        while cmd_topic not in offsets.get(self.thread.native_id, {}):
+            if time.time() > deadline:
+                self.fail("Interface cmd handler thread never started reading")
+            time.sleep(0.001)
 
     def tearDown(self):
         self.icht.graceful_kill()