diff --git a/bin/tests/system/ksr/tests_ksr.py b/bin/tests/system/ksr/tests_ksr.py
index 406250b6f1..32060acd3c 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/ksr/tests_ksr.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/ksr/tests_ksr.py
@@ -1457,8 +1457,15 @@ def test_ksr_fast(ns1):
     isctest.kasp.check_dnssecstatus(ns1, zone, zsks, policy=policy, verbose=True)
     # - dnssec_verify
     isctest.kasp.check_dnssec_verify(ns1, zone)
+
     # - check keys
-    check_keys(zsks, lifetime, FASTCONFIG, with_state=True)
+    # named updates the state file asynchronously, so retry the state check
+    # until the rumoured -> omnipresent transition catches up.
+    def check_keys_state():
+        check_keys(zsks, lifetime, FASTCONFIG, with_state=True)
+        return True
+
+    isctest.run.retry_with_timeout(check_keys_state, timeout=30)
     # - check apex
     isctest.kasp.check_apex(ns1, zone, ksks, zsks, offline_ksk=True)
     # - check subdomain