diff --git a/qa/workunits/smb/tests/smbutil.py b/qa/workunits/smb/tests/smbutil.py
index 38f7f018a57..64377f1cb3f 100644
--- a/qa/workunits/smb/tests/smbutil.py
+++ b/qa/workunits/smb/tests/smbutil.py
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ def get_share_by_id(smb_cfg, cluster_id, share_id):
     return None
 
 
-def apply_share_config(smb_cfg, share):
+def apply_share_config(smb_cfg, share, immediate=False):
     """Apply share configuration via the apply command."""
     jres = cephutil.cephadm_shell_cmd(
         smb_cfg,
@@ -214,5 +214,6 @@ def apply_share_config(smb_cfg, share):
     assert resources_ret['resource_type'] == 'ceph.smb.share'
     # sleep to ensure the settings got applied in smbd
     # TODO: make this more dynamic somehow
-    time.sleep(60)
+    if not immediate:
+        time.sleep(60)
     return resources_ret