diff --git a/test/helpers/kubectl.go b/test/helpers/kubectl.go
index 85b9dcf8ea8b..f910d271ddde 100644
--- a/test/helpers/kubectl.go
+++ b/test/helpers/kubectl.go
@@ -3405,6 +3405,34 @@ func (kub *Kubectl) WaitForIPCacheEntry(node, ipAddr string) error {
 		&TimeoutConfig{Timeout: HelperTimeout})
 }
 
+// RepeatCommandInBackground runs command on repeat in goroutine until quit channel
+// is closed and closes run channel when command is first run
+func (kub *Kubectl) RepeatCommandInBackground(cmd string) (quit, run chan struct{}) {
+	quit = make(chan struct{})
+	run = make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		firstRun := true
+		for {
+			select {
+			case <-quit:
+				return
+			default:
+				res := kub.Exec(cmd)
+				if !res.WasSuccessful() {
+					kub.Logger().WithFields(logrus.Fields{
+						"cmd": cmd,
+					}).Warning("Command failed running in the background")
+				}
+				if firstRun {
+					close(run)
+				}
+				firstRun = false
+			}
+		}
+	}()
+	return
+}
+
 func serviceKey(s v1.Service) string {
 	return s.Namespace + "/" + s.Name
 }
diff --git a/test/k8sT/fqdn.go b/test/k8sT/fqdn.go
index 0cd911125b41..0c045e8738f8 100644
--- a/test/k8sT/fqdn.go
+++ b/test/k8sT/fqdn.go
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ var _ = Describe("K8sFQDNTest", func() {
 		_ = kubectl.Exec(fmt.Sprintf("%s delete --all cnp", helpers.KubectlCmd))
 	})
 
-	PIt("Restart Cilium validate that FQDN is still working", func() {
+	It("Restart Cilium validate that FQDN is still working", func() {
 		// Test functionality:
 		// - When Cilium is running) Connectivity from App2 application can
 		// connect to DNS because dns-proxy filter the DNS request. If the
@@ -161,14 +161,22 @@ var _ = Describe("K8sFQDNTest", func() {
 		Expect(err).To(BeNil(), "Cannot install fqdn proxy policy")
 
 		connectivityTest()
-		By("Deleting cilium pods")
-
-		res := kubectl.Exec(fmt.Sprintf("%s -n %s delete pods -l k8s-app=cilium",
-			helpers.KubectlCmd, helpers.CiliumNamespace))
-		res.ExpectSuccess()
+		By("restarting cilium pods")
+
+		// kill pid 1 in each cilium pod
+		cmd := fmt.Sprintf("%[1]s get pods -l k8s-app=cilium -n %[2]s |  tail -n +2 | cut -d ' ' -f 1 | xargs -I{} %[1]s exec -n %[2]s {} -- kill 1",
+			helpers.KubectlCmd, helpers.CiliumNamespace)
+		quit, run := kubectl.RepeatCommandInBackground(cmd)
+		channelClosed := false
+		defer func() {
+			if !channelClosed {
+				close(quit)
+			}
+		}()
+		<-run // waiting for first run to finish
 
 		By("Testing connectivity when cilium is restoring using IPS without DNS")
-		res = kubectl.ExecPodCmd(
+		res := kubectl.ExecPodCmd(
 			helpers.DefaultNamespace, appPods[helpers.App2],
 			helpers.CurlFail(worldTargetIP))
 		res.ExpectSuccess("%q cannot curl to %q during restart", helpers.App2, worldTargetIP)
@@ -178,6 +186,9 @@ var _ = Describe("K8sFQDNTest", func() {
 			helpers.CurlFail(worldInvalidTargetIP))
 		res.ExpectFail("%q can  connect when it should not work", helpers.App2)
 
+		channelClosed = true
+		close(quit)
+
 		ExpectAllPodsTerminated(kubectl)
 		ExpectCiliumReady(kubectl)