diff --git a/tests/check/pipelines/vorbisdec.c b/tests/check/pipelines/vorbisdec.c
index 751e79a82d..8434d6004a 100644
--- a/tests/check/pipelines/vorbisdec.c
+++ b/tests/check/pipelines/vorbisdec.c
@@ -54,8 +54,11 @@ GST_START_TEST (test_timestamps)
   GstBus *bus;
   GError *error = NULL;
 
+  /* allowing some tolerance permits audiodecoder to come up with
+   * perfect timestamps rather than sticking to upstream ts */
   pipe_str = g_strdup_printf ("audiotestsrc num-buffers=100"
-      " ! audio/x-raw-int,rate=44100 ! audioconvert ! vorbisenc ! vorbisdec"
+      " ! audio/x-raw-int,rate=44100 ! audioconvert ! vorbisenc "
+      " ! vorbisdec tolerance=10000000 "
       " ! identity check-imperfect-timestamp=TRUE ! fakesink");
 
   pipeline = gst_parse_launch (pipe_str, &error);