diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/license/LicenseServiceClusterNotRecoveredTests.java b/x-pack/plugin/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/license/LicenseServiceClusterNotRecoveredTests.java
deleted file mode 100644
index 69710b24bb2..00000000000
--- a/x-pack/plugin/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/license/LicenseServiceClusterNotRecoveredTests.java
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-/*
- * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
- * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
- * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
- */
-package org.elasticsearch.license;
-
-import org.elasticsearch.analysis.common.CommonAnalysisPlugin;
-import org.elasticsearch.common.settings.Settings;
-import org.elasticsearch.plugins.Plugin;
-import org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase;
-import org.elasticsearch.test.discovery.TestZenDiscovery;
-import org.elasticsearch.transport.Netty4Plugin;
-import org.elasticsearch.xpack.core.LocalStateCompositeXPackPlugin;
-
-import java.util.Arrays;
-import java.util.Collection;
-
-import static org.elasticsearch.test.ESIntegTestCase.Scope.TEST;
-
-@ESIntegTestCase.ClusterScope(scope = TEST, numDataNodes = 0, numClientNodes = 0, maxNumDataNodes = 0, transportClientRatio = 0,
-        autoMinMasterNodes = false)
-public class LicenseServiceClusterNotRecoveredTests extends AbstractLicensesIntegrationTestCase {
-
-    @Override
-    protected Settings nodeSettings(int nodeOrdinal) {
-        return nodeSettingsBuilder(nodeOrdinal).build();
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    protected boolean addMockHttpTransport() {
-        return false;
-    }
-
-    private Settings.Builder nodeSettingsBuilder(int nodeOrdinal) {
-        return Settings.builder()
-                .put(super.nodeSettings(nodeOrdinal))
-                .put("node.data", true)
-                .put(TestZenDiscovery.USE_ZEN2.getKey(), false) // this test is just weird
-                .put("resource.reload.interval.high", "500ms"); // for license mode file watcher
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    protected Collection<Class<? extends Plugin>> nodePlugins() {
-        return Arrays.asList(LocalStateCompositeXPackPlugin.class, CommonAnalysisPlugin.class, Netty4Plugin.class);
-    }
-
-    @Override
-    protected Collection<Class<? extends Plugin>> transportClientPlugins() {
-        return nodePlugins();
-    }
-
-    public void testClusterNotRecovered() throws Exception {
-        logger.info("--> start one master out of two [recovery state]");
-        internalCluster().startNode(nodeSettingsBuilder(0).put("discovery.zen.minimum_master_nodes", 2).put("node.master", true));
-        logger.info("--> start second master out of two [recovered state]");
-        internalCluster().startNode(nodeSettingsBuilder(1).put("discovery.zen.minimum_master_nodes", 2).put("node.master", true));
-        assertLicenseActive(true);
-    }
-}