diff --git a/core/src/test/scala/integration/kafka/api/PlaintextAdminIntegrationTest.scala b/core/src/test/scala/integration/kafka/api/PlaintextAdminIntegrationTest.scala
index c7a45fc8c80d7..02fd3304444e0 100644
--- a/core/src/test/scala/integration/kafka/api/PlaintextAdminIntegrationTest.scala
+++ b/core/src/test/scala/integration/kafka/api/PlaintextAdminIntegrationTest.scala
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ import scala.collection.Seq
 import scala.concurrent.duration.Duration
 import scala.concurrent.{Await, Future}
 import scala.jdk.CollectionConverters._
+import scala.jdk.OptionConverters._
 import scala.util.{Random, Using}
 
 /**
@@ -2850,6 +2851,33 @@ class PlaintextAdminIntegrationTest extends BaseAdminIntegrationTest {
     }
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Waits until the metadata for the given partition has fully propagated
+   * and become consistent across all brokers.
+   *
+   * This method repeatedly checks the leader information for the specified
+   * TopicPartition in each broker's metadata cache. It compares all brokers'
+   * views against the leader reported by the head broker. The loop continues
+   * until all brokers agree on the same leader, ensuring metadata consistency.
+   *
+   * This is useful in integration tests where operations such as
+   * preferred leader election or other metadata updates require
+   * propagation time before assertions can be made reliably.
+   */
+  def sleepMillisToPropagateMetadata(partition: TopicPartition): Unit = {
+    var allSynced: Boolean = false
+
+    while (!allSynced) {
+      val prior = brokers.head.metadataCache.getPartitionLeaderEndpoint(partition.topic, partition.partition(), listenerName).get.id()
+
+      allSynced = brokers.forall { broker =>
+        val leaderIdOpt = broker.metadataCache.getPartitionLeaderEndpoint(partition.topic, partition.partition(), listenerName).map(_.id())
+        val leaderId = leaderIdOpt.toScala
+        leaderId.contains(prior)
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   @Test
   def testElectPreferredLeaders(): Unit = {
     client = createAdminClient
@@ -2876,12 +2904,12 @@ class PlaintextAdminIntegrationTest extends BaseAdminIntegrationTest {
       val prior1 = brokers.head.metadataCache.getPartitionLeaderEndpoint(partition1.topic, partition1.partition(), listenerName).get.id()
       val prior2 = brokers.head.metadataCache.getPartitionLeaderEndpoint(partition2.topic, partition2.partition(), listenerName).get.id()
 
-      var m = Map.empty[TopicPartition, Optional[NewPartitionReassignment]]
+      var reassignmentMap = Map.empty[TopicPartition, Optional[NewPartitionReassignment]]
       if (prior1 != preferred)
-        m += partition1 -> Optional.of(new NewPartitionReassignment(newAssignment.map(Int.box).asJava))
+        reassignmentMap += partition1 -> Optional.of(new NewPartitionReassignment(newAssignment.map(Int.box).asJava))
       if (prior2 != preferred)
-        m += partition2 -> Optional.of(new NewPartitionReassignment(newAssignment.map(Int.box).asJava))
-      client.alterPartitionReassignments(m.asJava).all().get()
+        reassignmentMap += partition2 -> Optional.of(new NewPartitionReassignment(newAssignment.map(Int.box).asJava))
+      client.alterPartitionReassignments(reassignmentMap.asJava).all().get()
 
       TestUtils.waitUntilTrue(
         () => preferredLeader(partition1) == preferred && preferredLeader(partition2) == preferred,
@@ -2909,6 +2937,7 @@ class PlaintextAdminIntegrationTest extends BaseAdminIntegrationTest {
     TestUtils.assertLeader(client, partition2, 0)
 
     // Now change the preferred leader to 1
+    sleepMillisToPropagateMetadata(partition1);
     changePreferredLeader(prefer1)
 
     // meaningful election
@@ -2947,6 +2976,8 @@ class PlaintextAdminIntegrationTest extends BaseAdminIntegrationTest {
     TestUtils.assertLeader(client, partition2, 1)
 
     // Now change the preferred leader to 2
+    sleepMillisToPropagateMetadata(partition1)
+    sleepMillisToPropagateMetadata(partition2)
     changePreferredLeader(prefer2)
 
     // mixed results
@@ -2963,9 +2994,12 @@ class PlaintextAdminIntegrationTest extends BaseAdminIntegrationTest {
     TestUtils.assertLeader(client, partition2, 2)
 
     // Now change the preferred leader to 1
+    sleepMillisToPropagateMetadata(partition1)
+    sleepMillisToPropagateMetadata(partition2)
     changePreferredLeader(prefer1)
     // but shut it down...
     killBroker(1)
+    sleepMillisToPropagateMetadata(partition1)
     TestUtils.waitForBrokersOutOfIsr(client, Set(partition1, partition2), Set(1))
 
     def assertPreferredLeaderNotAvailable(