diff --git a/test/test_cursor.py b/test/test_cursor.py
index 212de4d287..7b10c2cac6 100644
--- a/test/test_cursor.py
+++ b/test/test_cursor.py
@@ -1259,8 +1259,8 @@ def test_timeout_kills_cursor_asynchronously(self):
 
         def assertCursorKilled():
             wait_until(
-                lambda: len(client._MongoClient__kill_cursors_queue) == 0,
-                "waited for all killCursor requests to complete",
+                lambda: len(listener.succeeded_events),
+                "find successful killCursors command",
             )
 
             self.assertEqual(1, len(listener.started_events))