Index: tests.scm
==================================================================
--- tests.scm
+++ tests.scm
@@ -1517,11 +1517,11 @@
 ;; if .testconfig exists in test directory read and return it
 ;; else if have cached copy in *testconfigs* return it IFF there is a section "have fulldata"
 ;; else read the testconfig file
 ;;   if have path to test directory save the config as .testconfig and return it
 ;;
-(define (tests:get-testconfig test-name item-path test-registry system-allowed #!key (force-create #f)(allow-write-cache #t))
+(define (tests:get-testconfig test-name item-path test-registry system-allowed #!key (force-create #f)(allow-write-cache #t)(wait-a-minute #f))
   (let* ((use-cache    (common:use-cache?))
 	 (cache-path   (tests:get-test-path-from-environment))
 	 (cache-file   (and cache-path (conc cache-path "/.testconfig")))
 	 (cache-exists (and cache-file
 			    (not force-create)  ;; if force-create then pretend there is no cache to read
@@ -1547,11 +1547,23 @@
 	      (let* ((treg         (or test-registry
 				       (tests:get-all)))
 		     (test-path    (or (hash-table-ref/default treg test-name #f)
 				       (conc *toppath* "/tests/" test-name)))
 		     (test-configf (conc test-path "/testconfig"))
-		     (testexists   (and (common:file-exists? test-configf)(file-read-access? test-configf)))
+		     (testexists (let loop ((tries-left 7))
+                                   (cond
+                                    ( (and (common:file-exists? test-configf)(file-read-access? test-configf))
+                                      #t)
+                                    ( (common:file-exists? test-configf)
+                                      (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: Cannot read testconfig file: "test-configf)
+                                      #f)
+                                    ( (and wait-a-minute (> tries-left 0))
+                                      (thread-sleep! 10)
+                                      (loop (sub1 tries-left)))
+                                    (else
+                                     (debug:print 0 *default-log-port* "WARNING: testconfig file does not exist: "test-configf)
+                                     #f))))
 		     (tcfg         (if testexists
 				       (read-config test-configf #f system-allowed
 						    environ-patt: (if system-allowed
 								      "pre-launch-env-vars"
 								      #f))