diff --git a/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/MergeWithFailureIT.java b/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/MergeWithFailureIT.java
index e72b9a2fec2e9..f801b68e48603 100644
--- a/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/MergeWithFailureIT.java
+++ b/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/MergeWithFailureIT.java
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ public void testFailedMergeDeadlock() throws Exception {
         ensureRed(indexName);
 
         // verify that the shard store is effectively closed
-        assertTrue(plugin.shardStoreClosedListener.isDone());
+        safeGet(plugin.shardStoreClosedListener);
 
         if (closingThread != null) {
             closingThread.join();