diff --git a/pkg/kv/kvserver/batcheval/cmd_add_sstable_test.go b/pkg/kv/kvserver/batcheval/cmd_add_sstable_test.go
index 6012e5305db8..66c852de4649 100644
--- a/pkg/kv/kvserver/batcheval/cmd_add_sstable_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kv/kvserver/batcheval/cmd_add_sstable_test.go
@@ -1711,7 +1711,11 @@ func TestAddSSTableSSTTimestampToRequestTimestampRespectsClosedTS(t *testing.T)
 
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	si, _, db := serverutils.StartServer(t, base.TestServerArgs{
-		Knobs: base.TestingKnobs{},
+		Knobs: base.TestingKnobs{
+			Store: &kvserver.StoreTestingKnobs{
+				DisableCanAckBeforeApplication: true,
+			},
+		},
 	})
 	defer si.Stopper().Stop(ctx)
 	s := si.(*server.TestServer)