diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/ccr/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ccr/IndexFollowingIT.java b/x-pack/plugin/ccr/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ccr/IndexFollowingIT.java
index 2d0b9e80934..a91f4a4cac8 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/ccr/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ccr/IndexFollowingIT.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/ccr/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/ccr/IndexFollowingIT.java
@@ -625,7 +625,6 @@ public class IndexFollowingIT extends CCRIntegTestCase {
         String leaderIndexSettings = getIndexSettings(1, numberOfReplicas,
             singletonMap(IndexSettings.INDEX_SOFT_DELETES_SETTING.getKey(), "true"));
         assertAcked(leaderClient().admin().indices().prepareCreate("leader-index").setSource(leaderIndexSettings, XContentType.JSON));
-        ensureLeaderGreen("leader-index");
         AtomicBoolean stopped = new AtomicBoolean();
         Thread[] threads = new Thread[between(1, 8)];
         AtomicInteger docID = new AtomicInteger();
@@ -744,7 +743,7 @@ public class IndexFollowingIT extends CCRIntegTestCase {
         flushingOnFollower.join();
         indexingOnLeader.join();
         assertSameDocCount("leader-index", "follower-index");
-        unfollowIndex("follower-index");
+        pauseFollow("follower-index");
     }
 
     private CheckedRunnable<Exception> assertTask(final int numberOfPrimaryShards, final Map<ShardId, Long> numDocsPerShard) {