diff --git a/elasticsearch/qa/messy-test-xpack-with-mustache/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/messy/tests/SearchInputIT.java b/elasticsearch/qa/messy-test-xpack-with-mustache/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/messy/tests/SearchInputIT.java
index 635c40756dd..bb5a50d38d3 100644
--- a/elasticsearch/qa/messy-test-xpack-with-mustache/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/messy/tests/SearchInputIT.java
+++ b/elasticsearch/qa/messy-test-xpack-with-mustache/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/messy/tests/SearchInputIT.java
@@ -200,7 +200,9 @@ public class SearchInputIT extends ESIntegTestCase {
 
         assertNotNull(executedResult.executedRequest());
         assertThat(executedResult.status(), is(Input.Result.Status.SUCCESS));
-        assertEquals(executedResult.executedRequest().searchType(), request.searchType());
+        if (getNumShards("test-search-index").numPrimaries > 1) {
+            assertEquals(executedResult.executedRequest().searchType(), request.searchType());
+        }
         assertArrayEquals(executedResult.executedRequest().indices(), request.indices());
         assertEquals(executedResult.executedRequest().indicesOptions(), request.indicesOptions());