diff --git a/tests/integration/utils/kafka_server.py b/tests/integration/utils/kafka_server.py
index 8e8b29e48..5b8c4b934 100644
--- a/tests/integration/utils/kafka_server.py
+++ b/tests/integration/utils/kafka_server.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 See LICENSE for details
 """
 from dataclasses import dataclass
-from kafka.errors import LeaderNotAvailableError, NoBrokersAvailable, UnrecognizedBrokerVersion
+from kafka.errors import AuthenticationFailedError
 from karapace.kafka_admin import KafkaAdminClient
 from karapace.utils import Expiration
 from pathlib import Path
@@ -51,21 +51,7 @@ def wait_for_kafka(
             )
             try:
                 KafkaAdminClient(bootstrap_servers=server).cluster_metadata()
-            # ValueError:
-            # - if the port number is invalid (i.e. not a number)
-            # - if the port is not bound yet
-            # NoBrokersAvailable:
-            # - if the address/port does not point to a running server
-            # LeaderNotAvailableError:
-            # - if there is no leader yet
-            # UnrecognizedBrokerVersion:
-            # - happens during start-up of dockerized Kafka
-            except (
-                NoBrokersAvailable,
-                LeaderNotAvailableError,
-                UnrecognizedBrokerVersion,
-                ValueError,
-            ) as e:
+            except AuthenticationFailedError as e:
                 print(f"Error checking kafka cluster: {e}")
                 time.sleep(2.0)
             else: