diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/action/ManyShardsIT.java b/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/action/ManyShardsIT.java
index 2f2ab99cdf17a..506c143b85150 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/action/ManyShardsIT.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/action/ManyShardsIT.java
@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 import org.apache.lucene.tests.util.LuceneTestCase;
 import org.elasticsearch.ExceptionsHelper;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.ActionListener;
-import org.elasticsearch.action.admin.indices.stats.IndicesStatsRequest;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.bulk.BulkRequestBuilder;
 import org.elasticsearch.action.support.WriteRequest;
 import org.elasticsearch.cluster.metadata.IndexMetadata;
@@ -283,17 +282,7 @@ public void testCancelUnnecessaryRequests() {
         try {
             var result = safeExecute(client(coordinatingNode), EsqlQueryAction.INSTANCE, query);
             assertThat(Iterables.size(result.rows()), equalTo(1L));
-            assertThat(exchanges.get(), lessThanOrEqualTo(1));// 0 if result is populated from coordinating node
-        } catch (AssertionError e) {
-            client().admin().indices().stats(new IndicesStatsRequest()).actionGet().asMap().forEach((shard, stats) -> {
-                logger.info(
-                    "Shard {} node {} status {} docs {}",
-                    shard.shardId(),
-                    shard.currentNodeId(),
-                    shard.state(),
-                    stats.getStats().getDocs().getCount()
-                );
-            });
+            assertThat(exchanges.get(), lessThanOrEqualTo(2));
         } finally {
             coordinatorNodeTransport.clearAllRules();
         }