diff --git a/packages/compass-e2e-tests/helpers/commands/connect.ts b/packages/compass-e2e-tests/helpers/commands/connect.ts
index 7216a941e5b..60fbc9d6d2d 100644
--- a/packages/compass-e2e-tests/helpers/commands/connect.ts
+++ b/packages/compass-e2e-tests/helpers/commands/connect.ts
@@ -187,8 +187,21 @@ export async function connectByName(
   connectionName: string,
   options: ConnectionResultOptions = {}
 ) {
+  // make sure the connection shows up before we try and hover over it
+  await browser
+    .$(Selectors.sidebarConnection(connectionName))
+    .waitForDisplayed();
+
+  // focus the filter input so that we can be sure the window is focused and the
+  // mouse pointer is away from the connection itself
+  await browser.clickVisible(Selectors.SidebarFilterInput);
+
+  // hover over the connection and hope the connect button shows up
   await browser.hover(Selectors.sidebarConnection(connectionName));
+
+  // hopefully the connect button showed up on hover and we can click it
   await browser.clickVisible(Selectors.sidebarConnectionButton(connectionName));
+
   await browser.waitForConnectionResult(connectionName, options);
 }