diff --git a/topdown/cache/cache.go b/topdown/cache/cache.go
index 55ed340619..347803d4d7 100644
--- a/topdown/cache/cache.go
+++ b/topdown/cache/cache.go
@@ -154,11 +154,14 @@ func NewInterQueryCache(config *Config) InterQueryCache {
 func NewInterQueryCacheWithContext(ctx context.Context, config *Config) InterQueryCache {
 	iqCache := newCache(config)
 	if iqCache.staleEntryEvictionTimePeriodSeconds() > 0 {
-		cleanupTicker := time.NewTicker(time.Duration(iqCache.staleEntryEvictionTimePeriodSeconds()) * time.Second)
 		go func() {
+			cleanupTicker := time.NewTicker(time.Duration(iqCache.staleEntryEvictionTimePeriodSeconds()) * time.Second)
 			for {
 				select {
 				case <-cleanupTicker.C:
+					// NOTE: We stop the ticker and create a new one here to ensure that applications
+					// get _at least_ staleEntryEvictionTimePeriodSeconds with the cache unlocked;
+					// see https://github.com/open-policy-agent/opa/pull/7188/files#r1855342998
 					cleanupTicker.Stop()
 					iqCache.cleanStaleValues()
 					cleanupTicker = time.NewTicker(time.Duration(iqCache.staleEntryEvictionTimePeriodSeconds()) * time.Second)
diff --git a/topdown/cache/cache_test.go b/topdown/cache/cache_test.go
index ede1983c44..1423a1b363 100644
--- a/topdown/cache/cache_test.go
+++ b/topdown/cache/cache_test.go
@@ -408,14 +408,17 @@ func TestInsertWithExpiryAndEviction(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %v", err)
 	}
 
-	cache := NewInterQueryCacheWithContext(context.Background(), config)
+	// This starts a background ticker at stale_entry_eviction_period_seconds to clean up items.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cache := NewInterQueryCacheWithContext(ctx, config)
+	t.Cleanup(cancel)
 
 	cacheValue := newInterQueryCacheValue(ast.StringTerm("bar").Value, 20)
 	cache.InsertWithExpiry(ast.StringTerm("force_evicted_foo").Value, cacheValue, time.Now().Add(100*time.Second))
 	if fetchedCacheValue, found := cache.Get(ast.StringTerm("force_evicted_foo").Value); !found {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected cache entry with value %v, found %v", cacheValue, fetchedCacheValue)
 	}
-	cache.InsertWithExpiry(ast.StringTerm("expired_foo").Value, cacheValue, time.Now().Add(1*time.Second))
+	cache.InsertWithExpiry(ast.StringTerm("expired_foo").Value, cacheValue, time.Now().Add(900*time.Millisecond))
 	if fetchedCacheValue, found := cache.Get(ast.StringTerm("expired_foo").Value); !found {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected cache entry with value %v, found %v", cacheValue, fetchedCacheValue)
 	}
@@ -425,7 +428,7 @@ func TestInsertWithExpiryAndEviction(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Ensure stale entries clean up routine runs at least once
-	time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+	time.Sleep(1100 * time.Millisecond)
 
 	// Entry deleted even though not expired because force evicted when foo is inserted
 	if fetchedCacheValue, found := cache.Get(ast.StringTerm("force_evicted_foo").Value); found {
@@ -454,20 +457,23 @@ func TestInsertHighTTLWithStaleEntryCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %v", err)
 	}
 
-	cache := NewInterQueryCacheWithContext(context.Background(), config)
+	// This starts a background ticker at stale_entry_eviction_period_seconds to clean up items.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cache := NewInterQueryCacheWithContext(ctx, config)
+	t.Cleanup(cancel)
 
 	cacheValue := newInterQueryCacheValue(ast.StringTerm("bar").Value, 20)
 	cache.InsertWithExpiry(ast.StringTerm("high_ttl_foo").Value, cacheValue, time.Now().Add(100*time.Second))
 	if fetchedCacheValue, found := cache.Get(ast.StringTerm("high_ttl_foo").Value); !found {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected cache entry with value %v, found %v", cacheValue, fetchedCacheValue)
 	}
-	cache.InsertWithExpiry(ast.StringTerm("expired_foo").Value, cacheValue, time.Now().Add(1*time.Second))
+	cache.InsertWithExpiry(ast.StringTerm("expired_foo").Value, cacheValue, time.Now().Add(900*time.Millisecond))
 	if fetchedCacheValue, found := cache.Get(ast.StringTerm("expired_foo").Value); !found {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected cache entry with value %v, found no entry", fetchedCacheValue)
 	}
 
 	// Ensure stale entries clean up routine runs at least once
-	time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+	time.Sleep(1100 * time.Millisecond)
 
 	cache.InsertWithExpiry(ast.StringTerm("foo").Value, cacheValue, time.Now().Add(10*time.Second))
 	if fetchedCacheValue, found := cache.Get(ast.StringTerm("foo").Value); !found {
@@ -497,7 +503,10 @@ func TestInsertHighTTLWithoutStaleEntryCleanup(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %v", err)
 	}
 
-	cache := NewInterQueryCacheWithContext(context.Background(), config)
+	// This starts a background ticker at stale_entry_eviction_period_seconds to clean up items.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cache := NewInterQueryCacheWithContext(ctx, config)
+	t.Cleanup(cancel)
 
 	cacheValue := newInterQueryCacheValue(ast.StringTerm("bar").Value, 20)
 	cache.InsertWithExpiry(ast.StringTerm("high_ttl_foo").Value, cacheValue, time.Now().Add(100*time.Second))
@@ -537,14 +546,17 @@ func TestZeroExpiryTime(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Unexpected error %v", err)
 	}
 
-	cache := NewInterQueryCacheWithContext(context.Background(), config)
+	// This starts a background ticker at stale_entry_eviction_period_seconds to clean up items.
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
+	cache := NewInterQueryCacheWithContext(ctx, config)
+	t.Cleanup(cancel)
 	cacheValue := newInterQueryCacheValue(ast.StringTerm("bar").Value, 20)
 	cache.InsertWithExpiry(ast.StringTerm("foo").Value, cacheValue, time.Time{})
 	if fetchedCacheValue, found := cache.Get(ast.StringTerm("foo").Value); !found {
 		t.Fatalf("Expected cache entry with value %v for foo, found %v", cacheValue, fetchedCacheValue)
 	}
 
-	time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+	time.Sleep(1100 * time.Millisecond)
 
 	// Stale entry cleanup routine skips zero time cache entries
 	if fetchedCacheValue, found := cache.Get(ast.StringTerm("foo").Value); !found {
@@ -574,7 +586,7 @@ func TestCancelNewInterQueryCacheWithContext(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	cancel()
-	time.Sleep(2 * time.Second)
+	time.Sleep(1100 * time.Millisecond)
 
 	// Stale entry cleanup routine stopped as context was cancelled
 	if fetchedCacheValue, found := cache.Get(ast.StringTerm("foo").Value); !found {