diff --git a/packages/kbn-unified-data-table/src/hooks/use_row_heights_options.ts b/packages/kbn-unified-data-table/src/hooks/use_row_heights_options.ts
index 55eaa17c2c2ea..3df1a31aaa9d3 100644
--- a/packages/kbn-unified-data-table/src/hooks/use_row_heights_options.ts
+++ b/packages/kbn-unified-data-table/src/hooks/use_row_heights_options.ts
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ const serializeRowHeight = (rowHeight?: EuiDataGridRowHeightOption): number => {
     return ROWS_HEIGHT_OPTIONS.auto;
   } else if (typeof rowHeight === 'object' && rowHeight.lineCount) {
     return rowHeight.lineCount; // custom
+  } else if (typeof rowHeight === 'number') {
+    return rowHeight;
   }
 
   return ROWS_HEIGHT_OPTIONS.single;
diff --git a/test/functional/apps/discover/group2/_data_grid_row_height.ts b/test/functional/apps/discover/group2/_data_grid_row_height.ts
index 0cdfc16cb3536..109c35e25a24c 100644
--- a/test/functional/apps/discover/group2/_data_grid_row_height.ts
+++ b/test/functional/apps/discover/group2/_data_grid_row_height.ts
@@ -61,18 +61,18 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
 
       await dataGrid.resetRowHeightValue();
 
-      expect(await dataGrid.getCurrentRowHeightValue()).to.be('Auto fit');
+      expect(await dataGrid.getCurrentRowHeightValue()).to.be('Custom');
 
-      await dataGrid.changeRowHeightValue('Custom');
+      await dataGrid.changeRowHeightValue('Auto fit');
 
       await dataGrid.resetRowHeightValue();
 
-      expect(await dataGrid.getCurrentRowHeightValue()).to.be('Auto fit');
+      expect(await dataGrid.getCurrentRowHeightValue()).to.be('Custom');
     });
 
     it('should persist the selection after reloading the page', async () => {
       await dataGrid.clickGridSettings();
-      expect(await dataGrid.getCurrentRowHeightValue()).to.be('Auto fit');
+      expect(await dataGrid.getCurrentRowHeightValue()).to.be('Custom');
 
       await dataGrid.changeRowHeightValue('Single');