diff --git a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r1/bgpd.conf b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r1/bgpd.conf
index 9d28957d99..ccfec19e9b 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r1/bgpd.conf
+++ b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r1/bgpd.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 !
 router bgp 65500
+ timers bgp 3 9
  bgp router-id 192.0.2.1
  neighbor 192.0.2.3 remote-as 65500
  neighbor 192.0.2.3 update-source lo
@@ -7,6 +8,7 @@ router bgp 65500
  neighbor 192.0.2.7 ttl-security hops 10
  neighbor 192.0.2.7 disable-connected-check
  neighbor 192.0.2.7 update-source lo
+ neighbor 192.0.2.7 timers connect 5
  !
  address-family ipv4 unicast
   network 192.0.2.1/32
diff --git a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r2/bgpd.conf b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r2/bgpd.conf
index 46d2c9a01d..e02e7a4b29 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r2/bgpd.conf
+++ b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r2/bgpd.conf
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 router bgp 65500
+ timers bgp 3 9
  bgp router-id 192.0.2.2
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 remote-as 65500
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 update-source lo
diff --git a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r3/bgpd.conf b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r3/bgpd.conf
index 060777e7fe..f2b22d7b38 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r3/bgpd.conf
+++ b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r3/bgpd.conf
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 router bgp 65500
+ timers bgp 3 9
  bgp router-id 192.0.2.3
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 remote-as 65500
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 update-source lo
diff --git a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r4/bgpd.conf b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r4/bgpd.conf
index dc052da863..d0f2f468bf 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r4/bgpd.conf
+++ b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r4/bgpd.conf
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 !
 router bgp 65500
+ timers bgp 3 9
  bgp router-id 192.0.2.4
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 remote-as 65500
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 ttl-security hops 10
diff --git a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r5/bgpd.conf b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r5/bgpd.conf
index 1c73154e27..e2401eb1f9 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r5/bgpd.conf
+++ b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r5/bgpd.conf
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 router bgp 65500
+ timers bgp 3 9
  bgp router-id 192.0.2.5
  neighbor 192.0.2.3 remote-as 65500
  neighbor 192.0.2.3 update-source lo
diff --git a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r7/bgpd.conf b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r7/bgpd.conf
index eeda9d9cfa..325124e9f8 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r7/bgpd.conf
+++ b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/r7/bgpd.conf
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
 !
 router bgp 65500
+ timers bgp 3 9
  bgp router-id 192.0.2.7
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 remote-as 65500
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 ttl-security hops 10
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 disable-connected-check
  neighbor 192.0.2.1 update-source lo
+ neighbor 192.0.2.1 timers connect 5
  neighbor 192.0.2.5 remote-as 65500
  neighbor 192.0.2.5 update-source lo
  !
diff --git a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/test_zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution.py b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/test_zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution.py
index 984ff3c185..e42070b4d6 100644
--- a/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/test_zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution.py
+++ b/tests/topotests/zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution/test_zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution.py
@@ -156,16 +156,17 @@ def test_zebra_fec_nexthop_resolution_bgp():
     def _check_bgp_session():
         r1 = tgen.gears["r1"]
 
-        tgen.gears["r3"].vtysh_cmd("config \n no mpls fec nexthop-resolution \n end")
-        tgen.gears["r3"].vtysh_cmd("config \n mpls fec nexthop-resolution \n end")
-        tgen.gears["r5"].vtysh_cmd("config \n no mpls fec nexthop-resolution \n end")
-        tgen.gears["r5"].vtysh_cmd("config \n mpls fec nexthop-resolution \n end")
         output = json.loads(r1.vtysh_cmd("show bgp summary json"))
 
         if output["ipv4Unicast"]["peers"]["192.0.2.7"]["state"] == "Established":
             return None
         return False
 
+    tgen.gears["r3"].vtysh_cmd("config \n no mpls fec nexthop-resolution \n end")
+    tgen.gears["r3"].vtysh_cmd("config \n mpls fec nexthop-resolution \n end")
+    tgen.gears["r5"].vtysh_cmd("config \n no mpls fec nexthop-resolution \n end")
+    tgen.gears["r5"].vtysh_cmd("config \n mpls fec nexthop-resolution \n end")
+
     test_func1 = functools.partial(_check_bgp_session)
     _, result1 = topotest.run_and_expect(test_func1, None, count=60, wait=0.5)
     assert result1 is None, "Failed to verify the fec_nexthop_resolution: bgp session"