diff --git a/tests/integration_tests/functional/test_steal_time.py b/tests/integration_tests/functional/test_steal_time.py
index d7c3c25cb92..8653cf3f8ec 100644
--- a/tests/integration_tests/functional/test_steal_time.py
+++ b/tests/integration_tests/functional/test_steal_time.py
@@ -104,18 +104,19 @@ def test_pvtime_snapshot(uvm_plain, microvm_factory):
     # Steal time just after restoring
     steal_after_snap = get_steal_time_ms(restored_vm)
 
-    time.sleep(2)
-
-    # Steal time after running resumed VM
-    steal_after_resume = get_steal_time_ms(restored_vm)
-
-    # Ensure steal time persisted and continued increasing
+    # Ensure steal time persisted
     tolerance = 10000  # 10.0 seconds tolerance for persistence check
     persisted = (
         steal_before < steal_after_snap and steal_after_snap - steal_before < tolerance
     )
-    increased = steal_after_resume > steal_after_snap
+    assert persisted, "Steal time did not persist through snapshot"
+
+    time.sleep(2)
+
+    # Steal time after running resumed VM
+    steal_after_resume = get_steal_time_ms(restored_vm)
 
+    # Ensure steal time continued increasing
     assert (
-        persisted and increased
-    ), "Steal time did not persist through snapshot or failed to increase after resume"
+        steal_after_resume > steal_after_snap
+    ), "Steal time failed to increase after resume"