diff --git a/integration/__tests__/app-preferences.tests.ts b/integration/__tests__/app-preferences.tests.ts
index 4afa8cfd96..989218797f 100644
--- a/integration/__tests__/app-preferences.tests.ts
+++ b/integration/__tests__/app-preferences.tests.ts
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 */
 import type { Page } from "playwright";
 import * as utils from "../helpers/utils";
+import { listHelmRepositories } from "../helpers/utils";
 
 describe("preferences page tests", () => {
   let window: Page, cleanup: () => Promise<void>;
@@ -65,6 +66,12 @@ describe("preferences page tests", () => {
 
   it("ensures helm repos", async () => {
     await window.click("[data-testid=kubernetes-tab]");
+    const repos = await listHelmRepositories(); // wait for default helm repo to be added
+
+    if (repos.length === 0) {
+      fail("Lens failed to add any repositories");
+    }
+
     await window.waitForSelector("[data-testid=repository-name]", {
       timeout: 100_000,
     });
diff --git a/integration/helpers/utils.ts b/integration/helpers/utils.ts
index 3bc9ad3ae4..b6154bd801 100644
--- a/integration/helpers/utils.ts
+++ b/integration/helpers/utils.ts
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ import * as path from "path";
 import * as uuid from "uuid";
 import { ElectronApplication, Frame, Page, _electron as electron } from "playwright";
 import { noop } from "lodash";
+import { promisify } from "util";
+import { exec } from "child_process";
 
 export const AppPaths: Partial<Record<NodeJS.Platform, string>> = {
   "win32": "./dist/win-unpacked/OpenLens.exe",
@@ -67,7 +69,10 @@ export async function start() {
     args: ["--integration-testing"], // this argument turns off the blocking of quit
     executablePath: AppPaths[process.platform],
     bypassCSP: true,
-    env: { CICD },
+    env: {
+      CICD,
+      ...process.env
+    },
     timeout: 100_000,
   } as Parameters<typeof electron["launch"]>[0]);
 
@@ -114,3 +119,24 @@ export async function lauchMinikubeClusterFromCatalog(window: Page): Promise<Fra
 
   return frame;
 }
+
+export const promiseExec = promisify(exec);
+
+type HelmRepository = {
+  name: string;
+  url: string;
+};
+
+export async function listHelmRepositories(): Promise<HelmRepository[]>{
+  for (let i = 0; i < 10; i += 1) {
+    try {
+      const { stdout } = await promiseExec("helm repo list -o json");
+
+      return JSON.parse(stdout);
+    } catch {
+      await new Promise(r => setTimeout(r, 2000)); // if no repositories, wait for Lens adding bitnami repository
+    }
+  }
+
+  return [];
+}