diff --git a/tests/unit/expire.tcl b/tests/unit/expire.tcl
index 444525f36..8bcdc16b7 100644
--- a/tests/unit/expire.tcl
+++ b/tests/unit/expire.tcl
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ start_server {tags {"expire"}} {
         # This test is very likely to do a false positive if the
         # server is under pressure, so if it does not work give it a few more
         # chances.
-        for {set j 0} {$j < 3} {incr j} {
+        for {set j 0} {$j < 30} {incr j} {
             r del x y z
             r psetex x 100 somevalue
             after 80
@@ -108,18 +108,22 @@ start_server {tags {"expire"}} {
             set d [r get x]
 
             r set x somevalue
-            r pexpireat x [expr ([clock seconds]*1000)+100]
-            after 80
+            set now [r time]
+            r pexpireat x [expr ([lindex $now 0]*1000)+([lindex $now 1]/1000)+200]
+            after 20
             set e [r get x]
-            after 120
+            after 220
             set f [r get x]
 
             if {$a eq {somevalue} && $b eq {} &&
                 $c eq {somevalue} && $d eq {} &&
                 $e eq {somevalue} && $f eq {}} break
         }
-        list $a $b
-    } {somevalue {}}
+        if {$::verbose} {
+            puts "sub-second expire test attempts: $j"
+        }
+        list $a $b $c $d $e $f
+    } {somevalue {} somevalue {} somevalue {}}
 
     test {TTL returns time to live in seconds} {
         r del x