diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 16650a0644..3749099f1d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ If you are using Maven without the BOM, add this to your dependencies:
 If you are using Gradle 5.x or later, add this to your dependencies:
 
 ```Groovy
-implementation platform('com.google.cloud:libraries-bom:26.25.0')
+implementation platform('com.google.cloud:libraries-bom:26.26.0')
 
 implementation 'com.google.cloud:google-cloud-spanner'
 ```
diff --git a/google-cloud-spanner/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/spanner/it/ITTransactionManagerTest.java b/google-cloud-spanner/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/spanner/it/ITTransactionManagerTest.java
index 736f00ebd6..116d6c2436 100644
--- a/google-cloud-spanner/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/spanner/it/ITTransactionManagerTest.java
+++ b/google-cloud-spanner/src/test/java/com/google/cloud/spanner/it/ITTransactionManagerTest.java
@@ -134,7 +134,10 @@ public void simpleInsert() throws InterruptedException {
           assertThat(row.getBoolean(1)).isTrue();
           break;
         } catch (AbortedException e) {
-          Thread.sleep(e.getRetryDelayInMillis());
+          long retryDelayInMillis = e.getRetryDelayInMillis();
+          if (retryDelayInMillis > 0) {
+            Thread.sleep(retryDelayInMillis);
+          }
           txn = manager.resetForRetry();
         }
       }
@@ -158,7 +161,10 @@ public void invalidInsert() throws InterruptedException {
           manager.commit();
           fail("Expected exception");
         } catch (AbortedException e) {
-          Thread.sleep(e.getRetryDelayInMillis());
+          long retryDelayInMillis = e.getRetryDelayInMillis();
+          if (retryDelayInMillis > 0) {
+            Thread.sleep(retryDelayInMillis);
+          }
           txn = manager.resetForRetry();
         } catch (SpannerException e) {
           // expected
@@ -188,7 +194,10 @@ public void rollback() throws InterruptedException {
           manager.rollback();
           break;
         } catch (AbortedException e) {
-          Thread.sleep(e.getRetryDelayInMillis());
+          long retryDelayInMillis = e.getRetryDelayInMillis();
+          if (retryDelayInMillis > 0) {
+            Thread.sleep(retryDelayInMillis);
+          }
           txn = manager.resetForRetry();
         }
       }
@@ -231,7 +240,10 @@ public void abortAndRetry() throws InterruptedException {
           manager1.commit();
           break;
         } catch (AbortedException e) {
-          Thread.sleep(e.getRetryDelayInMillis());
+          long retryDelayInMillis = e.getRetryDelayInMillis();
+          if (retryDelayInMillis > 0) {
+            Thread.sleep(retryDelayInMillis);
+          }
           // It is possible that it was txn2 that aborted.
           // In that case we should just retry without resetting anything.
           if (manager1.getState() == TransactionState.ABORTED) {
@@ -278,7 +290,10 @@ public void testTransactionManagerReturnsCommitStats() throws InterruptedExcepti
           assertEquals(2L, manager.getCommitResponse().getCommitStats().getMutationCount());
           break;
         } catch (AbortedException e) {
-          Thread.sleep(e.getRetryDelayInMillis());
+          long retryDelayInMillis = e.getRetryDelayInMillis();
+          if (retryDelayInMillis > 0) {
+            Thread.sleep(retryDelayInMillis);
+          }
           transaction = manager.resetForRetry();
         }
       }