diff --git a/packages/aws-cdk/lib/api/logs/logs-monitor.ts b/packages/aws-cdk/lib/api/logs/logs-monitor.ts
index 1065b17dc76f8..c2757514a1463 100644
--- a/packages/aws-cdk/lib/api/logs/logs-monitor.ts
+++ b/packages/aws-cdk/lib/api/logs/logs-monitor.ts
@@ -125,6 +125,9 @@ export class CloudWatchLogEventMonitor {
 
   private async tick(): Promise<void> {
     if (!this.active) {
+      // excluding from codecoverage because this
+      // doesn't always run (depends on timing)
+      /* istanbul ignore next */
       return;
     }
     try {