diff --git a/provider/file/file_test.go b/provider/file/file_test.go
index 1e62175ae..eae4f847f 100644
--- a/provider/file/file_test.go
+++ b/provider/file/file_test.go
@@ -255,16 +255,21 @@ func TestProvideWithWatch(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			timeout = time.After(time.Second * 1)
-			success := false
-			for !success {
+			var numUpdates, numBackends, numFrontends, numTLSConfs int
+			for {
 				select {
 				case config := <-configChan:
-					success = assert.Len(t, config.Configuration.Backends, test.expectedNumBackend)
-					success = success && assert.Len(t, config.Configuration.Frontends, test.expectedNumFrontend)
-					success = success && assert.Len(t, config.Configuration.TLS, test.expectedNumTLSConf)
+					numUpdates++
+					numBackends = len(config.Configuration.Backends)
+					numFrontends = len(config.Configuration.Frontends)
+					numTLSConfs = len(config.Configuration.TLS)
+					t.Logf("received update #%d: backends %d/%d, frontends %d/%d, TLS configs %d/%d", numUpdates, numBackends, test.expectedNumBackend, numFrontends, test.expectedNumFrontend, numTLSConfs, test.expectedNumTLSConf)
+
+					if numBackends == test.expectedNumBackend && numFrontends == test.expectedNumFrontend && numTLSConfs == test.expectedNumTLSConf {
+						return
+					}
 				case <-timeout:
-					t.Errorf("timeout while waiting for config")
-					return
+					t.Fatal("timeout while waiting for config")
 				}
 			}
 		})