diff --git a/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py b/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py
index 3d3b970cbd..54776e5dcb 100755
--- a/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py
+++ b/test/functional/test_framework/test_framework.py
@@ -710,6 +710,10 @@ class BitcoinTestFramework(metaclass=BitcoinTestMetaClass):
         self.wait_until(lambda: sum(peer['version'] != 0 for peer in to_connection.getpeerinfo()) == to_num_peers)
         self.wait_until(lambda: sum(peer['bytesrecv_per_msg'].pop('verack', 0) == 24 for peer in from_connection.getpeerinfo()) == from_num_peers)
         self.wait_until(lambda: sum(peer['bytesrecv_per_msg'].pop('verack', 0) == 24 for peer in to_connection.getpeerinfo()) == to_num_peers)
+        # The message bytes are counted before processing the message, so make
+        # sure it was fully processed by waiting for a ping.
+        self.wait_until(lambda: sum(peer["bytesrecv_per_msg"].pop("pong", 0) >= 32 for peer in from_connection.getpeerinfo()) == from_num_peers)
+        self.wait_until(lambda: sum(peer["bytesrecv_per_msg"].pop("pong", 0) >= 32 for peer in to_connection.getpeerinfo()) == to_num_peers)
 
     def disconnect_nodes(self, a, b):
         # A node cannot disconnect from itself, bail out early