diff --git a/tests/topotests/bfd_bgp_cbit_topo3/r1/bgpd.conf b/tests/topotests/bfd_bgp_cbit_topo3/r1/bgpd.conf
index f8ad1f3a66..054b12832a 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/bfd_bgp_cbit_topo3/r1/bgpd.conf
+++ b/tests/topotests/bfd_bgp_cbit_topo3/r1/bgpd.conf
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ router bgp 101
  bgp graceful-restart
  neighbor 2001:db8:4::1 remote-as 102
  neighbor 2001:db8:4::1 timers 3 10
+ neighbor 2001:db8:4::1 timers connect 1
  neighbor 2001:db8:4::1 remote-as external
  neighbor 2001:db8:4::1 bfd
  neighbor 2001:db8:4::1 bfd check-control-plane-failure
diff --git a/tests/topotests/bfd_bgp_cbit_topo3/r3/bgpd.conf b/tests/topotests/bfd_bgp_cbit_topo3/r3/bgpd.conf
index 42953a075c..d7e10210f3 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/bfd_bgp_cbit_topo3/r3/bgpd.conf
+++ b/tests/topotests/bfd_bgp_cbit_topo3/r3/bgpd.conf
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ router bgp 102
  bgp graceful-restart restart-time 900
  neighbor 2001:db8:1::1 remote-as 101
  neighbor 2001:db8:1::1 timers 3 10
+ neighbor 2001:db8:1::1 timers connect 1
  neighbor 2001:db8:1::1 remote-as external
  neighbor 2001:db8:1::1 update-source 2001:db8:4::1
  neighbor 2001:db8:1::1 bfd