diff --git a/git-remote-testgit.py b/git-remote-testgit.py
index 3dc4851cfc70a2..5f3ebd244dac3c 100644
--- a/git-remote-testgit.py
+++ b/git-remote-testgit.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
     _digest = sha.new
 import sys
 import os
+import time
 sys.path.insert(0, os.getenv("GITPYTHONLIB","."))
 
 from git_remote_helpers.util import die, debug, warn
@@ -204,6 +205,11 @@ def read_one_line(repo):
     """Reads and processes one command.
     """
 
+    sleepy = os.environ.get("GIT_REMOTE_TESTGIT_SLEEPY")
+    if sleepy:
+        debug("Sleeping %d sec before readline" % int(sleepy))
+        time.sleep(int(sleepy))
+
     line = sys.stdin.readline()
 
     cmdline = line
@@ -258,6 +264,7 @@ def main(args):
 
     more = True
 
+    sys.stdin = os.fdopen(sys.stdin.fileno(), 'r', 0)
     while (more):
         more = read_one_line(repo)
 
diff --git a/t/t5800-remote-helpers.sh b/t/t5800-remote-helpers.sh
index 1c62001fce76a7..57023345100d3c 100755
--- a/t/t5800-remote-helpers.sh
+++ b/t/t5800-remote-helpers.sh
@@ -72,6 +72,19 @@ test_expect_success 'pushing to local repo' '
 	compare_refs localclone HEAD server HEAD
 '
 
+# Generally, skip this test.  It demonstrates a now-fixed race in
+# git-remote-testgit, but is too slow to leave in for general use.
+: test_expect_success 'racily pushing to local repo' '
+	test_when_finished "rm -rf server2 localclone2" &&
+	cp -a server server2 &&
+	git clone "testgit::${PWD}/server2" localclone2 &&
+	(cd localclone2 &&
+	echo content >>file &&
+	git commit -a -m three &&
+	GIT_REMOTE_TESTGIT_SLEEPY=2 git push) &&
+	compare_refs localclone2 HEAD server2 HEAD
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'synch with changes from localclone' '
 	(cd clone &&
 	 git pull)