diff --git a/helper/helper_test.go b/helper/helper_test.go
index 27c3171..a37a736 100644
--- a/helper/helper_test.go
+++ b/helper/helper_test.go
@@ -48,10 +48,11 @@ func argFChecked(argsFd, statFd int) (args []string) {
 }
 
 // this function tests an implementation of the helper.Helper interface
-func testHelper(t *testing.T,
-	createHelper func(ctx context.Context, setOutput func(stdoutP, stderrP *io.Writer), stat bool) helper.Helper,
-	prefix string,
-) {
+func testHelper(t *testing.T, createHelper func(ctx context.Context, setOutput func(stdoutP, stderrP *io.Writer), stat bool) helper.Helper) {
+	oldWaitDelay := helper.WaitDelay
+	helper.WaitDelay = 16 * time.Second
+	t.Cleanup(func() { helper.WaitDelay = oldWaitDelay })
+
 	t.Run("start helper with status channel and wait", func(t *testing.T) {
 		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
 		stdout, stderr := new(strings.Builder), new(strings.Builder)