diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/MinimumMasterNodesIT.java b/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/MinimumMasterNodesIT.java
index 450744d64df..71fe7caabcf 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/MinimumMasterNodesIT.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/MinimumMasterNodesIT.java
@@ -249,8 +249,7 @@ public class MinimumMasterNodesIT extends ESIntegTestCase {
         String[] newNodes = internalCluster().startNodes(2, settings).stream().toArray(String[]::new);
 
         ensureGreen();
-        clusterHealthResponse = client().admin().cluster().prepareHealth().setWaitForNodes("4").execute().actionGet();
-        assertThat(clusterHealthResponse.isTimedOut(), equalTo(false));
+        internalCluster().validateClusterFormed();
 
         state = client().admin().cluster().prepareState().execute().actionGet().getState();
         assertThat(state.nodes().getSize(), equalTo(4));
diff --git a/test/framework/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/test/InternalTestCluster.java b/test/framework/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/test/InternalTestCluster.java
index cf9c2dc3515..c4e191e75c5 100644
--- a/test/framework/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/test/InternalTestCluster.java
+++ b/test/framework/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/test/InternalTestCluster.java
@@ -1059,13 +1059,13 @@ public final class InternalTestCluster extends TestCluster {
     }
 
     /** ensure a cluster is formed with all published nodes. */
-    private void validateClusterFormed() {
+    public synchronized void validateClusterFormed() {
         String name = randomFrom(random, getNodeNames());
         validateClusterFormed(name);
     }
 
     /** ensure a cluster is formed with all published nodes, but do so by using the client of the specified node */
-    private void validateClusterFormed(String viaNode) {
+    public synchronized void validateClusterFormed(String viaNode) {
         Set<DiscoveryNode> expectedNodes = new HashSet<>();
         for (NodeAndClient nodeAndClient : nodes.values()) {
             expectedNodes.add(getInstanceFromNode(ClusterService.class, nodeAndClient.node()).localNode());