diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/indexlifecycle/IndexLifecycleInitialisationIT.java b/x-pack/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/indexlifecycle/IndexLifecycleInitialisationIT.java
index e7ca78d30b8..addc072d2f6 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/indexlifecycle/IndexLifecycleInitialisationIT.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/indexlifecycle/IndexLifecycleInitialisationIT.java
@@ -148,6 +148,8 @@ public class IndexLifecycleInitialisationIT extends ESIntegTestCase {
         });
     }
 
+    // NORELEASE re-enable when force merge action bug is fixed
+    @AwaitsFix(bugUrl = "Fails because force merge action expect shards to be assigned")
     public void testMasterFailover() throws Exception {
         // start one server
         logger.info("Starting sever1");