diff --git a/integration-cli/daemon_swarm.go b/integration-cli/daemon_swarm.go
index 39505a8dbf..d132c5ede1 100644
--- a/integration-cli/daemon_swarm.go
+++ b/integration-cli/daemon_swarm.go
@@ -300,3 +300,26 @@ func (d *SwarmDaemon) checkControlAvailable(c *check.C) (interface{}, check.Comm
 	c.Assert(info.LocalNodeState, checker.Equals, swarm.LocalNodeStateActive)
 	return info.ControlAvailable, nil
 }
+
+func (d *SwarmDaemon) checkLeader(c *check.C) (interface{}, check.CommentInterface) {
+	errList := check.Commentf("could not get node list")
+	status, out, err := d.SockRequest("GET", "/nodes", nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err, errList
+	}
+	if status != http.StatusOK {
+		return fmt.Errorf("expected http status OK, got: %d", status), errList
+	}
+
+	var ls []swarm.Node
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(out, &ls); err != nil {
+		return err, errList
+	}
+
+	for _, node := range ls {
+		if node.ManagerStatus != nil && node.ManagerStatus.Leader {
+			return nil, nil
+		}
+	}
+	return fmt.Errorf("no leader"), check.Commentf("could not find leader")
+}
diff --git a/integration-cli/docker_api_swarm_test.go b/integration-cli/docker_api_swarm_test.go
index c7970defc3..f363f8dad0 100644
--- a/integration-cli/docker_api_swarm_test.go
+++ b/integration-cli/docker_api_swarm_test.go
@@ -493,12 +493,18 @@ func (s *DockerSwarmSuite) TestApiSwarmRaftQuorum(c *check.C) {
 
 	c.Assert(d2.Stop(), checker.IsNil)
 
+	// make sure there is a leader
+	waitAndAssert(c, defaultReconciliationTimeout, d1.checkLeader, checker.IsNil)
+
 	d1.createService(c, simpleTestService, func(s *swarm.Service) {
 		s.Spec.Name = "top1"
 	})
 
 	c.Assert(d3.Stop(), checker.IsNil)
 
+	// make sure there is a leader
+	waitAndAssert(c, defaultReconciliationTimeout, d1.checkLeader, checker.IsNil)
+
 	var service swarm.Service
 	simpleTestService(&service)
 	service.Spec.Name = "top2"
@@ -508,6 +514,9 @@ func (s *DockerSwarmSuite) TestApiSwarmRaftQuorum(c *check.C) {
 
 	c.Assert(d2.Start(), checker.IsNil)
 
+	// make sure there is a leader
+	waitAndAssert(c, defaultReconciliationTimeout, d1.checkLeader, checker.IsNil)
+
 	d1.createService(c, simpleTestService, func(s *swarm.Service) {
 		s.Spec.Name = "top3"
 	})