diff --git a/common.py b/common.py
index f716d685009c4ab50f1b7a75f25706d98ccc2bce..8487836cd7aca28df06333b5087bfac77063d75f 100755
--- a/common.py
+++ b/common.py
@@ -99,6 +99,7 @@ def wait_until_merge_status_is_set(project: Project, mr: MergeRequest):
     """Periodically query MR until GitLab has checked its merge status"""
     print("Waiting until merge status has been checked", end="", flush=True)
     unchecked_states = ["unchecked", "checking", "cannot_be_merged_recheck"]
+    mr = project.mergerequests.get(mr.iid, retry_transient_errors=True)
     while mr.merge_status in unchecked_states:
         print(".", end="", flush=True)
         time.sleep(1)