diff --git a/tests/unit/tls_test.cc b/tests/unit/tls_test.cc
index 7d5a3ee1e1..593281b0c9 100644
--- a/tests/unit/tls_test.cc
+++ b/tests/unit/tls_test.cc
@@ -1069,8 +1069,12 @@ SEASTAR_THREAD_TEST_CASE(test_reload_certificates) {
             }
 
             try {
-                f2.get();
-                BOOST_FAIL("should not reach");
+                auto res = f2.get();
+                // If the server completes sending data to the client
+                // during the handshake before the client has fully
+                // closed its connection, then the get() call will
+                // succeed by return an empty buffer indicating EOF
+                BOOST_REQUIRE(res.size() == 0);
             } catch (...) {
                 // ok
             }
@@ -1832,8 +1836,12 @@ SEASTAR_THREAD_TEST_CASE(test_reload_certificates_with_only_shard0_notify) {
             }
 
             try {
-                f2.get();
-                BOOST_FAIL("should not reach");
+                auto res = f2.get();
+                // If the server completes sending data to the client
+                // during the handshake before the client has fully
+                // closed its connection, then the get() call will
+                // succeed by return an empty buffer indicating EOF
+                BOOST_REQUIRE(res.size() == 0);
             } catch (...) {
                 // ok
             }