diff --git a/tests/init-tests.el b/tests/init-tests.el
index 6b0f443..be494f5 100644
--- a/tests/init-tests.el
+++ b/tests/init-tests.el
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@
        (proto (if no-ssl "http" "https")))
   (add-to-list 'package-archives
                (cons "melpa" (concat proto "://melpa.org/packages/")) t))
+(condition-case nil
+    (package-initialize)
+  (error (progn
+           (message "Retrying in 5 secs...")
+           (sleep-for 5)
+           (package-initialize))))
+
 (package-initialize)
 
 ;; Optionally: bootstrap use-package for declarative package specs
@@ -25,7 +32,12 @@
 
 ;; Bootstrap ert-async
 (unless (package-installed-p 'ert-async)
-  (package-refresh-contents)
+  (condition-case nil
+      (package-refresh-contents)
+    (error (progn
+             (message "Retrying in 5 secs...")
+             (sleep-for 5)
+             (package-refresh-contents))))
   (package-install 'ert-async))
 (eval-when-compile
   (require 'ert-async))