diff --git a/src/redfishpower/redfishpower.c b/src/redfishpower/redfishpower.c
index 12f24d77..c868edea 100644
--- a/src/redfishpower/redfishpower.c
+++ b/src/redfishpower/redfishpower.c
@@ -1161,6 +1161,11 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
             free(hostname);
         }
         hostlist_iterator_destroy(itr);
+
+        /* under test mode we can make the polling interval a lot smaller
+         * lets put it to a millisecond.
+         */
+        status_polling_interval = 1000;
     }
 
     shell(mh);