diff --git a/tests/test_helper.tcl b/tests/test_helper.tcl
index ae076fc209e..5e448c8cc27 100644
--- a/tests/test_helper.tcl
+++ b/tests/test_helper.tcl
@@ -153,9 +153,9 @@ proc cleanup {} {
 proc find_available_port start {
     for {set j $start} {$j < $start+1024} {incr j} {
         if {[catch {
-            set fd [socket 127.0.0.1 $start]
+            set fd [socket 127.0.0.1 $j]
         }]} {
-            return $start
+            return $j
         } else {
             close $fd
         }