diff --git a/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/opensearch/action/admin/cluster/stats/ClusterStatsIT.java b/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/opensearch/action/admin/cluster/stats/ClusterStatsIT.java
index e0057d51bd53f..7c0e27bf706af 100644
--- a/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/opensearch/action/admin/cluster/stats/ClusterStatsIT.java
+++ b/server/src/internalClusterTest/java/org/opensearch/action/admin/cluster/stats/ClusterStatsIT.java
@@ -400,6 +400,7 @@ public void testNodeRolesWithDataNodeLegacySettings() throws ExecutionException,
 
         // can't start data-only node without assigning cluster-manager
         internalCluster().startClusterManagerOnlyNodes(1);
+        waitForNodes(1);
         internalCluster().startNodes(legacyDataNodeSettings);
         waitForNodes(total);