diff --git a/test/e2e/tests/test_vpc.py b/test/e2e/tests/test_vpc.py
index b5d33644..a621ad48 100644
--- a/test/e2e/tests/test_vpc.py
+++ b/test/e2e/tests/test_vpc.py
@@ -249,7 +249,9 @@ def test_disallow_default_security_group_rule(self, ec2_client, simple_vpc):
         (ref, cr) = simple_vpc
         resource_id = cr["status"]["vpcID"]
 
-        time.sleep(CREATE_WAIT_AFTER_SECONDS)
+        # Wait for the controller to finish reconciling (SG rule deletion
+        # happens inline during creation but the controller may be busy)
+        assert k8s.wait_on_condition(ref, "ACK.ResourceSynced", "True", wait_periods=5)
 
         # Check VPC exists in AWS
         ec2_validator = EC2Validator(ec2_client)