diff --git a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/indices/state/ReopenWhileClosingIT.java b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/indices/state/ReopenWhileClosingIT.java
index 901c4f327af48..083c5ab1f5510 100644
--- a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/indices/state/ReopenWhileClosingIT.java
+++ b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/indices/state/ReopenWhileClosingIT.java
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ protected Collection<Class<? extends Plugin>> nodePlugins() {
         return singletonList(MockTransportService.TestPlugin.class);
     }
 
+    @Override
+    protected int minimumNumberOfShards() {
+        return 2;
+    }
+
     public void testReopenDuringClose() throws Exception {
         final String indexName = "test";
         createIndexWithDocs(indexName);