diff --git a/test/verify/check-metrics b/test/verify/check-metrics
index e9062e9c2fa4..facb44db08d7 100755
--- a/test/verify/check-metrics
+++ b/test/verify/check-metrics
@@ -247,7 +247,8 @@ class TestHistoryMetrics(testlib.MachineCase):
         b.wait_in_text("#metrics-hour-1597662000000.metrics-hour-compressed .spikes_count", "3 spikes")
         b.wait_in_text("#metrics-hour-1597662000000.metrics-hour-compressed .spikes_info", "1 Memory, 1 Disk I/O, 1 Network I/O")
 
-        b.assert_pixels(".metrics", "metrics-history-compressed-hour", ignore=[".nodata"],
+        # the bottom panel has some unpredictable padding height (± one pixel of extra background) in the medium layout
+        b.assert_pixels(".metrics", "metrics-history-compressed-hour", ignore=[".nodata", ".bottom-panel"],
                         skip_layouts=["mobile"], wait_after_layout_change=True)
 
         # Check that events are not visible for compressed hours