diff --git a/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/recovery/RelocationTests.java b/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/recovery/RelocationTests.java
index 8db53a6b221..0684856ace8 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/recovery/RelocationTests.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/recovery/RelocationTests.java
@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ public class RelocationTests extends ElasticsearchIntegrationTest {
             logger.info("--> waiting for node1 to process replica existence");
             allReplicasAssigned.await();
             logger.info("--> waiting for recovery to fail");
-            unassignedShardsAfterReplicasAssigned.countDown();
+            unassignedShardsAfterReplicasAssigned.await();
         } finally {
             logger.info("--> releasing cluster state update thread");
             releaseClusterState.countDown();