diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/resque/icecast_config_writer.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/resque/icecast_config_writer.rb
index a02761e7b..31fc218a9 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/resque/icecast_config_writer.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/resque/icecast_config_writer.rb
@@ -70,6 +70,8 @@ module JamRuby
       cmd = APP_CONFIG.icecast_reload_cmd
       result = execute(cmd)
       raise "unable to execute icecast reload cmd=#{cmd}. result=#{$?}" unless result == 0
+
+      sleep APP_CONFIG.icecast_wait_after_reload
     end
 
     def run
diff --git a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/music_session_spec.rb b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/music_session_spec.rb
index c521e5ac4..943e4632e 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/music_session_spec.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/jam_ruby/models/music_session_spec.rb
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ describe MusicSession do
         end
 
         it "session listed if icecast_server config has been updated" do
-          pending "relative time problem"
+          pending "relative time problem (fails on seths mac, not linux)"
           connection_with_mount.touch
           session_with_mount.created_at = 2.minutes.ago
           session_with_mount.save!(:validate => false)
diff --git a/ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb b/ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb
index 7d4a8b60c..980456958 100644
--- a/ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb
+++ b/ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ def app_config
       nil # generate a new password everytime
     end
 
+    def icecast_wait_after_reload
+      0 # 0 seconds
+    end
+
     def rabbitmq_host
       "localhost"
     end
diff --git a/web/config/application.rb b/web/config/application.rb
index c02168a24..d450e6626 100644
--- a/web/config/application.rb
+++ b/web/config/application.rb
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ include JamRuby
     config.icecast_max_sourced_changed = 15 # 15 seconds
     config.icecast_reload_slush = 3 # 3 seconds
     config.icecast_hardcoded_source_password = nil # generate a new password everytim. production should always use this value
+    config.icecast_wait_after_reload = 5 # 5 seconds. a hack needed until VRFS-1043
 
     config.email_alerts_alias         = 'nobody@jamkazam.com' # should be used for 'oh no' server down/service down sorts of emails
     config.email_generic_from         = 'nobody@jamkazam.com'
diff --git a/web/config/environments/test.rb b/web/config/environments/test.rb
index 80c4d60f3..a7983a303 100644
--- a/web/config/environments/test.rb
+++ b/web/config/environments/test.rb
@@ -57,5 +57,7 @@ SampleApp::Application.configure do
   config.aws_bucket_public = 'jamkazam-testing'
   config.aws_access_key_id = 'AKIAJESQY24TOT542UHQ' # credentials for jamkazam-tester user, who has access to this bucket
   config.aws_secret_access_key = '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'
+
+  config.icecast_wait_after_reload = 0
 end