diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/netfilter/nft_conntrack_helper.sh b/tools/testing/selftests/netfilter/nft_conntrack_helper.sh
index edf0a48da6bf80650720471cc3913521330073d7..bf6b9626c7dd2749547cb13062188d4bb834c5b6 100755
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/netfilter/nft_conntrack_helper.sh
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/netfilter/nft_conntrack_helper.sh
@@ -94,7 +94,13 @@ check_for_helper()
 	local message=$2
 	local port=$3
 
-	ip netns exec ${netns} conntrack -L -p tcp --dport $port 2> /dev/null |grep -q 'helper=ftp'
+	if echo $message |grep -q 'ipv6';then
+		local family="ipv6"
+	else
+		local family="ipv4"
+	fi
+
+	ip netns exec ${netns} conntrack -L -f $family -p tcp --dport $port 2> /dev/null |grep -q 'helper=ftp'
 	if [ $? -ne 0 ] ; then
 		echo "FAIL: ${netns} did not show attached helper $message" 1>&2
 		ret=1
@@ -111,8 +117,8 @@ test_helper()
 
 	sleep 3 | ip netns exec ${ns2} nc -w 2 -l -p $port > /dev/null &
 
-	sleep 1
 	sleep 1 | ip netns exec ${ns1} nc -w 2 10.0.1.2 $port > /dev/null &
+	sleep 1
 
 	check_for_helper "$ns1" "ip $msg" $port
 	check_for_helper "$ns2" "ip $msg" $port
@@ -128,8 +134,8 @@ test_helper()
 
 	sleep 3 | ip netns exec ${ns2} nc -w 2 -6 -l -p $port > /dev/null &
 
-	sleep 1
 	sleep 1 | ip netns exec ${ns1} nc -w 2 -6 dead:1::2 $port > /dev/null &
+	sleep 1
 
 	check_for_helper "$ns1" "ipv6 $msg" $port
 	check_for_helper "$ns2" "ipv6 $msg" $port