diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.test.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.test.tsx
index 274f9e21a1..6fce560800 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.test.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchModal/SearchModal.test.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
  */
 
 import React from 'react';
-import { screen } from '@testing-library/react';
+import { screen, waitFor } from '@testing-library/react';
 import { renderInTestApp, TestApiRegistry } from '@backstage/test-utils';
 import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event';
 import { configApiRef } from '@backstage/core-plugin-api';
@@ -203,9 +203,9 @@ describe('SearchModal', () => {
       expect.objectContaining({ term: 'term' }),
     );
 
-    const input = screen.getByLabelText('Search');
+    const input = screen.getByLabelText<HTMLInputElement>('Search');
     await userEvent.clear(input);
-    await 'a tick';
+    await waitFor(() => expect(input.value).toBe(''));
     await userEvent.type(input, 'new term{enter}');
 
     expect(navigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith('/search?query=new term');