diff --git a/system_tests/pubsub.py b/system_tests/pubsub.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/system_tests/pubsub.py
+++ b/system_tests/pubsub.py
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ class TestPubsub(unittest.TestCase):
         def _no_topic(instance):
             return instance.topic is None
 
-        retry = RetryInstanceState(_no_topic)
+        retry = RetryInstanceState(_no_topic, max_tries=6)
         retry(orphaned.reload)()
 
         self.assertTrue(orphaned.topic is None)
Wait longer for orphaned subscription to have topic==None.