diff --git a/src/cmd/flux-resource.py b/src/cmd/flux-resource.py
index 00610aa458a6..2377522af95f 100755
--- a/src/cmd/flux-resource.py
+++ b/src/cmd/flux-resource.py
@@ -734,7 +734,9 @@ def eventlog(args):
     evf = EventLogFormatter(
         format=args.format, timestamp_format=args.time_format, color=args.color
     )
-    consumer = ResourceJournalConsumer(h, include_sentinel=True).start()
+    # The sentinel event is only used if we're not following the eventlog:
+    sentinel = not args.follow
+    consumer = ResourceJournalConsumer(h, include_sentinel=sentinel).start()
     while True:
         event = consumer.poll()
         if event is None or event.is_empty():
diff --git a/t/t2355-resource-journal.t b/t/t2355-resource-journal.t
index a75d55dcc205..ccdc7c019c93 100755
--- a/t/t2355-resource-journal.t
+++ b/t/t2355-resource-journal.t
@@ -119,8 +119,10 @@ test_expect_success 'that event WAS posted to the KVS' '
 	test $(grep resource-define kvs2 | wc -l) -eq 2
 '
 test_expect_success NO_CHAIN_LINT 'watch eventlog in the background waiting on drain' '
-	flux resource eventlog -F --wait=drain >bgeventlog &
-	echo $! >bgpid
+	flux resource eventlog -HF --wait=drain >bgeventlog &
+	echo $! >bgpid &&
+	# ensure RPC is established before moving on
+	waitfile.lua -vt 15 bgeventlog
 '
 test_expect_success NO_CHAIN_LINT 'drain rank 1' '
 	flux resource drain 1
@@ -128,7 +130,10 @@ test_expect_success NO_CHAIN_LINT 'drain rank 1' '
 test_expect_success NO_CHAIN_LINT 'background watcher completed successfully' '
 	wait $(cat bgpid)
 '
-
+test_expect_success NO_CHAIN_LINT 'background watcher waited for drain event' '
+	test_debug "cat bgeventlog" &&
+	tail -1 bgeventlog | grep drain
+'
 test_expect_success 'run restartable flux instance, drain 0' '
 	flux start --setattr=statedir=$(pwd) \
 	    sh -c "flux resource eventlog --wait=resource-define \