diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional_with_es_ssl/apps/discover/search_source_alert.ts b/x-pack/test/functional_with_es_ssl/apps/discover/search_source_alert.ts
index 29732a38cc562..fa20d2cac258c 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional_with_es_ssl/apps/discover/search_source_alert.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional_with_es_ssl/apps/discover/search_source_alert.ts
@@ -230,8 +230,14 @@ export default function ({ getService, getPageObjects }: FtrProviderContext) {
   describe('Search source Alert', () => {
     before(async () => {
       await security.testUser.setRoles(['discover_alert']);
+
+      log.debug('create source index');
       await createSourceIndex();
+
+      log.debug('generate documents');
       await generateNewDocs(5);
+
+      log.debug('create output index');
       await createOutputDataIndex();
 
       log.debug('create data views');