diff --git a/systemtap-static-probes-in-ruby/runtest.sh b/systemtap-static-probes-in-ruby/runtest.sh
index cfac459..f128274 100755
--- a/systemtap-static-probes-in-ruby/runtest.sh
+++ b/systemtap-static-probes-in-ruby/runtest.sh
@@ -71,7 +71,13 @@ rlJournalStart
         echo -e "--_STAP_PID--\n${_STAP_PID}" # info
 
         # wait for systemtap to start
-        rlWaitForCmd "grep 'starting run' ${_STAP_OUT}"
+        rlWaitForCmd "grep 'starting run' ${_STAP_OUT}" -p "${_STAP_PID}"
+        sleep 1
+        # check systemtap process, because systemtap can fail after logging
+        # "starting run".
+        rlRun "ps -q ${_STAP_PID}" 0 \
+            "Checking systemtap process in background" \
+            || rlRun -t "cat ${_STAP_OUT}"
 
         rlRun "$RUBY $RUBY_OPTS -e '1.0 + 9.0'" 0 "Running ruby interpreter: Float test"
         rlRun "$RUBY $RUBY_OPTS -e '[1, 2, 3].push(4)'" 0 "Running ruby interpreter: Array test"