diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/Engine.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/Engine.java
index 423ef199e03b4..881de29c435db 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/Engine.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/Engine.java
@@ -2199,7 +2199,7 @@ public void close() throws IOException {
         awaitPendingClose();
     }
 
-    private void awaitPendingClose() {
+    protected final void awaitPendingClose() {
         try {
             closedLatch.await();
         } catch (InterruptedException e) {