diff --git a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/integration/OffsetsApiIntegrationTest.java b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/integration/OffsetsApiIntegrationTest.java
index dc507b68df7c6..2da52cf9abd05 100644
--- a/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/integration/OffsetsApiIntegrationTest.java
+++ b/connect/runtime/src/test/java/org/apache/kafka/connect/integration/OffsetsApiIntegrationTest.java
@@ -143,6 +143,15 @@ private static EmbeddedConnectCluster createOrReuseConnectWithWorkerProps(Map<St
 
             result.start();
 
+            try {
+                result.assertions().assertExactlyNumWorkersAreUp(
+                        NUM_WORKERS,
+                        "Workers did not complete startup in time"
+                );
+            } catch (InterruptedException e) {
+                throw new RuntimeException("Interrupted while awaiting cluster startup", e);
+            }
+
             return result;
         });
     }