diff --git a/tests/support/server.tcl b/tests/support/server.tcl
index f1849ef4..948b5356 100644
--- a/tests/support/server.tcl
+++ b/tests/support/server.tcl
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ proc start_server {options {code undefined}} {
     
     # check that the server actually started
     # ugly but tries to be as fast as possible...
-    set retrynum 100
+    if {$::valgrind} {set retrynum 1000} else {set retrynum 100}
     set serverisup 0
 
     if {$::verbose} {