diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/MutableShardRouting.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/MutableShardRouting.java
index 7d6cc37badb..75ea07c0392 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/MutableShardRouting.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/MutableShardRouting.java
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public class MutableShardRouting extends ImmutableShardRouting {
         primary = true;
     }
 
-    public void moveToBackup() {
+    public void moveFromPrimary() {
         if (!primary) {
             throw new IllegalShardRoutingStateException(this, "Already primary, can't move to backup");
         }
diff --git a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/strategy/ShardsRoutingStrategy.java b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/strategy/ShardsRoutingStrategy.java
index 5527d168fac..1a2d428cbfa 100644
--- a/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/strategy/ShardsRoutingStrategy.java
+++ b/modules/elasticsearch/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/routing/strategy/ShardsRoutingStrategy.java
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ public class ShardsRoutingStrategy extends AbstractComponent {
                             assert !shardEntry2.primary();
 
                             changed = true;
-                            shardEntry.moveToBackup();
+                            shardEntry.moveFromPrimary();
                             shardEntry2.moveToPrimary();
                             elected = true;
                             break;