diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/breakpoints/step_after_suspend_test.c b/tools/testing/selftests/breakpoints/step_after_suspend_test.c
index f82dcc1f8841..67a2aaf1f9d9 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/breakpoints/step_after_suspend_test.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/breakpoints/step_after_suspend_test.c
@@ -161,7 +161,10 @@ void suspend(void)
 	if (err < 0)
 		ksft_exit_fail_msg("timerfd_settime() failed\n");
 
-	if (write(power_state_fd, "mem", strlen("mem")) != strlen("mem"))
+	system("(echo mem > /sys/power/state) 2> /dev/null");
+
+	timerfd_gettime(timerfd, &spec);
+	if (spec.it_value.tv_sec != 0 || spec.it_value.tv_nsec != 0)
 		ksft_exit_fail_msg("Failed to enter Suspend state\n");
 
 	close(timerfd);