diff --git a/tests/kafkatest/tests/core/reassign_partitions_test.py b/tests/kafkatest/tests/core/reassign_partitions_test.py
index 3d14512774..ddfbafe8ab 100644
--- a/tests/kafkatest/tests/core/reassign_partitions_test.py
+++ b/tests/kafkatest/tests/core/reassign_partitions_test.py
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ def move_start_offset(self):
         # partition until the log start offset matches the end offset. The
         # latter is more robust.
         # 6->12 seconds to bypass the initial delay of cleanup task
-        time.sleep(12)
+        # the broker clean up task initial delay is 30s
+        time.sleep(12 + 30)
 
     @cluster(num_nodes=8)
     @matrix(bounce_brokers=[True, False],