diff --git a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer/tests.rs b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer/tests.rs
index 36dcc8d805..f59f6e2a8a 100644
--- a/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer/tests.rs
+++ b/pageserver/src/tenant/storage_layer/layer/tests.rs
@@ -65,10 +65,13 @@ async fn smoke_test() {
             )
             .await
             .unwrap();
+
         data.keys
             .remove(&CONTROLFILE_KEY)
             .expect("must be present")
-            .expect("should not error")
+            .collect_pending_ios()
+            .await
+            .expect("must not error")
             .img
             .take()
             .expect("tenant harness writes the control file")
@@ -101,7 +104,9 @@ async fn smoke_test() {
         data.keys
             .remove(&CONTROLFILE_KEY)
             .expect("must be present")
-            .expect("should not error")
+            .collect_pending_ios()
+            .await
+            .expect("must not error")
             .img
             .take()
             .expect("tenant harness writes the control file")