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 a64e3344e11fc..7bfae2e37fa32 100644
--- a/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/MergeWithFailureIT.java
+++ b/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/MergeWithFailureIT.java
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ 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();