diff --git a/source/client-side-operations-timeout/tests/runCursorCommand.json b/source/client-side-operations-timeout/tests/runCursorCommand.json
index 36f774fb5a..64b6a9302b 100644
--- a/source/client-side-operations-timeout/tests/runCursorCommand.json
+++ b/source/client-side-operations-timeout/tests/runCursorCommand.json
@@ -133,6 +133,16 @@
         }
       ],
       "operations": [
+        {
+          "name": "find",
+          "object": "collection",
+          "arguments": {
+            "filter": {
+              "_id": 0
+            }
+          },
+          "expectResult": []
+        },
         {
           "name": "failPoint",
           "object": "testRunner",
@@ -174,6 +184,11 @@
         {
           "client": "client",
           "events": [
+            {
+              "commandStartedEvent": {
+                "commandName": "find"
+              }
+            },
             {
               "commandStartedEvent": {
                 "commandName": "find",
diff --git a/source/client-side-operations-timeout/tests/runCursorCommand.yml b/source/client-side-operations-timeout/tests/runCursorCommand.yml
index 91a18d6dd8..3ec0eb3619 100644
--- a/source/client-side-operations-timeout/tests/runCursorCommand.yml
+++ b/source/client-side-operations-timeout/tests/runCursorCommand.yml
@@ -70,6 +70,12 @@ tests:
     runOnRequirements:
       - serverless: forbid
     operations:
+      # pre-populate the pool with a connection
+      - name: find
+        object: collection
+        arguments:
+          filter: { _id: 0 }
+        expectResult: []
       # Block find/getMore for 60ms.
       - name: failPoint
         object: testRunner
@@ -97,6 +103,9 @@ tests:
     expectEvents:
       - client: *client
         events:
+          # first find is from the initial find to populate the connection poo
+          - commandStartedEvent:
+              commandName: find
           - commandStartedEvent:
               commandName: find
               command: