diff --git a/modules/lang-mustache/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/script/mustache/SearchTemplateRequestTests.java b/modules/lang-mustache/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/script/mustache/SearchTemplateRequestTests.java
index de85cb6ad12..47329828b00 100644
--- a/modules/lang-mustache/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/script/mustache/SearchTemplateRequestTests.java
+++ b/modules/lang-mustache/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/script/mustache/SearchTemplateRequestTests.java
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ public class SearchTemplateRequestTests extends AbstractWireSerializingTestCase<
         mutators.add(request -> request.setExplain(!request.isExplain()));
         mutators.add(request -> request.setSimulate(!request.isSimulate()));
 
-        mutators.add(request -> request.setRequest(
-            RandomSearchRequestGenerator.randomSearchRequest(SearchSourceBuilder::searchSource)));
+        mutators.add(request -> request.setRequest(randomValueOtherThan(request.getRequest(),
+                () -> RandomSearchRequestGenerator.randomSearchRequest(SearchSourceBuilder::searchSource))));
 
         SearchTemplateRequest mutatedInstance = copyInstance(instance);
         Consumer<SearchTemplateRequest> mutator = randomFrom(mutators);