diff --git a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/IndexShardTests.java b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/IndexShardTests.java
index ace0ee7268775..1fbe9fe1f8ce6 100644
--- a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/IndexShardTests.java
+++ b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/IndexShardTests.java
@@ -962,7 +962,8 @@ public void testRollbackReplicaEngineOnPromotion() throws IOException, Interrupt
         Set<String> docsBelowGlobalCheckpoint = getShardDocUIDs(indexShard).stream()
             .filter(id -> Long.parseLong(id) <= Math.max(globalCheckpointOnReplica, globalCheckpoint)).collect(Collectors.toSet());
         final CountDownLatch latch = new CountDownLatch(1);
-        final boolean shouldRollback = Math.max(globalCheckpoint, globalCheckpointOnReplica) < indexShard.seqNoStats().getMaxSeqNo();
+        final boolean shouldRollback = Math.max(globalCheckpoint, globalCheckpointOnReplica) < indexShard.seqNoStats().getMaxSeqNo()
+            && indexShard.seqNoStats().getMaxSeqNo() != SequenceNumbers.NO_OPS_PERFORMED;
         final Engine beforeRollbackEngine = indexShard.getEngine();
         indexShard.acquireReplicaOperationPermit(
                 indexShard.pendingPrimaryTerm + 1,