diff --git a/nixos/tests/signal-desktop.nix b/nixos/tests/signal-desktop.nix
index e4b830e9e237..65ae49a267d9 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/signal-desktop.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/signal-desktop.nix
@@ -31,8 +31,13 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ...} :
     # start signal desktop
     machine.execute("su - alice -c signal-desktop &")
 
-    # wait for the "Link your phone to Signal Desktop" message
-    machine.wait_for_text("Link your phone to Signal Desktop")
+    # Wait for the Signal window to appear. Since usually the tests
+    # are run sandboxed and therfore with no internet, we can not wait
+    # for the message "Link your phone ...". Nor should we wait for
+    # the "Failed to connect to server" message, because when manually
+    # running this test it will be not sandboxed.
+    machine.wait_for_text("Signal")
+    machine.wait_for_text("File Edit View Window Help")
     machine.screenshot("signal_desktop")
   '';
 })