diff --git a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/deadman/deadman_sync.ksh b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/deadman/deadman_sync.ksh
index b0b03f5d523e..fd6e8c858edd 100755
--- a/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/deadman/deadman_sync.ksh
+++ b/tests/zfs-tests/tests/functional/deadman/deadman_sync.ksh
@@ -1,90 +1,90 @@
 #!/bin/ksh -p
 #
 # CDDL HEADER START
 #
 # The contents of this file are subject to the terms of the
 # Common Development and Distribution License (the "License").
 # You may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
 #
 # You can obtain a copy of the license at usr/src/OPENSOLARIS.LICENSE
 # or http://www.opensolaris.org/os/licensing.
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions
 # and limitations under the License.
 #
 # When distributing Covered Code, include this CDDL HEADER in each
 # file and include the License file at usr/src/OPENSOLARIS.LICENSE.
 # If applicable, add the following below this CDDL HEADER, with the
 # fields enclosed by brackets "[]" replaced with your own identifying
 # information: Portions Copyright [yyyy] [name of copyright owner]
 #
 # CDDL HEADER END
 #
 
 #
 # Copyright (c) 2017 by Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC.
 # Use is subject to license terms.
 #
 
 # DESCRIPTION:
 #	Verify spa deadman detects a hung txg
 #
 # STRATEGY:
 #	1. Reduce the zfs_deadman_synctime_ms to 5s.
 #	2. Reduce the zfs_deadman_checktime_ms to 1s.
 #	3. Inject a 10s zio delay to force long IOs.
 #	4. Write enough data to force a long txg sync time due to the delay.
 #	5. Verify a "deadman" event is posted.
 #
 
 . $STF_SUITE/include/libtest.shlib
 . $STF_SUITE/tests/functional/deadman/deadman.cfg
 
 verify_runnable "both"
 
 function cleanup
 {
 	log_must zinject -c all
 	default_cleanup_noexit
 
 	log_must set_tunable64 DEADMAN_SYNCTIME_MS $SYNCTIME_DEFAULT
 	log_must set_tunable64 DEADMAN_CHECKTIME_MS $CHECKTIME_DEFAULT
 	log_must set_tunable64 DEADMAN_FAILMODE $FAILMODE_DEFAULT
 }
 
 log_assert "Verify spa deadman detects a hung txg"
 log_onexit cleanup
 
 log_must set_tunable64 DEADMAN_SYNCTIME_MS 5000
 log_must set_tunable64 DEADMAN_CHECKTIME_MS 1000
 log_must set_tunable64 DEADMAN_FAILMODE "wait"
 
 # Create a new pool in order to use the updated deadman settings.
 default_setup_noexit $DISK1
 log_must zpool events -c
 
 # Force each IO to take 10s by allow them to run concurrently.
 log_must zinject -d $DISK1 -D10000:10 $TESTPOOL
 
 mntpnt=$(get_prop mountpoint $TESTPOOL/$TESTFS)
 log_must file_write -b 1048576 -c 8 -o create -d 0 -f $mntpnt/file
 sleep 10
 
 log_must zinject -c all
 log_must zpool sync
 
 # Log txg sync times for reference and the zpool event summary.
 if is_freebsd; then
 	log_must sysctl -n kstat.zfs.$TESTPOOL.txgs
 else
 	log_must cat /proc/spl/kstat/zfs/$TESTPOOL/txgs
 fi
 log_must zpool events
 
-# Verify at least 5 deadman events were logged.  The first after 5 seconds,
+# Verify at least 4 deadman events were logged.  The first after 5 seconds,
 # and another each second thereafter until the delay  is clearer.
 events=$(zpool events | grep -c ereport.fs.zfs.deadman)
-if [ "$events" -lt 5 ]; then
+if [ "$events" -lt 4 ]; then
 	log_fail "Expect >=5 deadman events, $events found"
 fi
 
 log_pass "Verify spa deadman detected a hung txg and $events deadman events"