diff --git a/src/test/rpc/Subscribe_test.cpp b/src/test/rpc/Subscribe_test.cpp
index b3dc646e7e..f041256c53 100644
--- a/src/test/rpc/Subscribe_test.cpp
+++ b/src/test/rpc/Subscribe_test.cpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 //==============================================================================
 
 #include <BeastConfig.h>
+#include <ripple/app/main/LoadManager.h>
 #include <ripple/app/misc/LoadFeeTrack.h>
 #include <ripple/app/misc/NetworkOPs.h>
 #include <ripple/core/ConfigSections.h>
@@ -53,6 +54,12 @@ public:
             BEAST_EXPECT(jv[jss::status] == "success");
         }
 
+        // here we forcibly stop the load manager because it can (rarely but
+        // every-so-often) cause fees to raise or lower AFTER we've called the
+        // first findMsg but BEFORE we unsubscribe, thus causing the final
+        // findMsg check to fail since there is one unprocessed ws msg created
+        // by the loadmanager
+        env.app().getLoadManager().onStop();
         {
             // Raise fee to cause an update
             auto& feeTrack = env.app().getFeeTrack();
@@ -88,7 +95,8 @@ public:
             env.app().getOPs().reportFeeChange();
 
             // Check stream update
-            BEAST_EXPECT(! wsc->getMsg(10ms));
+            auto jvo = wsc->getMsg(10ms);
+            BEAST_EXPECTS(!jvo, "getMsg: " + to_string(jvo.get()) );
         }
     }