diff --git a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/VirtualizedList-test.js b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/VirtualizedList-test.js
index d649fca7723d..b02757cadf9f 100644
--- a/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/VirtualizedList-test.js
+++ b/packages/virtualized-lists/Lists/__tests__/VirtualizedList-test.js
@@ -1612,11 +1612,10 @@ it('adjusts render area with non-zero initialScrollIndex', async () => {
       content: {width: 10, height: 200},
     });
     simulateScroll(component, {x: 0, y: 10}); // simulate scroll offset for initialScrollIndex
-
-    // TODO: Rewrite test to tolerate subtle timing changes.
-    jest.advanceTimersToNextTimer(3);
   });
 
+  await advanceUntilRenderAreaChanged(component);
+
   // We should expand the render area after receiving a message indicating we
   // arrived at initialScrollIndex.
   expect(component).toMatchSnapshot();
@@ -2624,6 +2623,29 @@ function simulateScroll(component, position) {
   });
 }
 
+async function advanceUntilRenderAreaChanged(component) {
+  const instance = component.getInstance();
+  const initialRenderArea = instance.state.cellsAroundViewport;
+  const MAX_TIMER_STEPS = 20;
+
+  for (let step = 0; step < MAX_TIMER_STEPS; step++) {
+    const currentRenderArea = instance.state.cellsAroundViewport;
+    const renderAreaChanged =
+      currentRenderArea.first !== initialRenderArea.first ||
+      currentRenderArea.last !== initialRenderArea.last;
+
+    if (renderAreaChanged) {
+      return;
+    }
+
+    await act(() => {
+      jest.advanceTimersToNextTimer(1);
+    });
+  }
+
+  throw new Error(`Render area did not change`);
+}
+
 function performAllBatches() {
   jest.runAllTimers();
 }