diff --git a/.travis.yml b/.travis.yml
index 5298ea07..188f41e5 100644
--- a/.travis.yml
+++ b/.travis.yml
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ jobs:
       before_install: sudo apt-get install -y systemd-container yum qemu-kvm
       script: sudo env "PATH=$PATH" "OSBUILD_TEST_BUILD_ENV=samples/f27-build-from-ubuntu1804.json" python3 -m unittest -v test.test_boot
     - name: assemblers
-      before_install: sudo apt-get install -y systemd-container yum tar qemu-utils
+      before_install: sudo apt-get install -y systemd-container yum tar qemu-utils nbd-client
       script: sudo env "PATH=$PATH" "OSBUILD_TEST_BUILD_ENV=samples/f27-build-from-ubuntu1804.json" python3 -m unittest -v test.test_assemblers
     - name: stage-tests
       before_install: sudo apt-get install -y systemd-container yum
diff --git a/test/test_assemblers.py b/test/test_assemblers.py
index 470aa53f..b973eb61 100644
--- a/test/test_assemblers.py
+++ b/test/test_assemblers.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import os
 import subprocess
 import tempfile
 import uuid
+import time
 
 from . import osbuildtest
 
@@ -135,9 +136,17 @@ def nbd_connect(image):
         r = subprocess.run(["qemu-nbd", "--connect", device, "--read-only", image], check=False).returncode
         if r == 0:
             try:
+                # qemu-nbd doesn't wait for the device to be ready
+                for _ in range(100):
+                    if subprocess.run(["nbd-client", "--check", device], check=False, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL).returncode == 0:
+                        break
+                    time.sleep(0.2)
+
                 yield device
             finally:
+                # qemu-nbd doesn't wait until the device is released. nbd-client does
                 subprocess.run(["qemu-nbd", "--disconnect", device], check=True, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL)
+                subprocess.run(["nbd-client", "--disconnect", device], check=False, stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL)
             break
     else:
         raise RuntimeError("no free network block device")