diff --git a/tests/network-tests/start-storage.sh b/tests/network-tests/start-storage.sh
index 91b3f06acb..7a1ae378ff 100755
--- a/tests/network-tests/start-storage.sh
+++ b/tests/network-tests/start-storage.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,10 @@ export COLOSSUS_2_URL="http://${HOST_IP}:3335"
 export DISTRIBUTOR_2_URL="http://${HOST_IP}:3336"
 $THIS_DIR/run-test-scenario.sh initStorageAndDistribution
 
+
+# give QN time to catch up so nodes can get their initial state
+sleep 30
+
 # Start colossus & argus
 docker-compose -f $THIS_DIR/../../docker-compose.yml up -d colossus-1
 docker-compose -f $THIS_DIR/../../docker-compose.yml up -d distributor-1
@@ -29,4 +33,4 @@ docker logs colossus-2 --tail 300
 echo "## distributor-1"
 docker logs distributor-1 --tail 300
 echo "## distributor-2"
-docker logs distributor-2 --tail 300
\ No newline at end of file
+docker logs distributor-2 --tail 300