diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/optimizer/PhysicalPlanOptimizerTests.java b/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/optimizer/PhysicalPlanOptimizerTests.java
index dc3ae0a3388cb..d0c7a1cd61010 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/optimizer/PhysicalPlanOptimizerTests.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/esql/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/esql/optimizer/PhysicalPlanOptimizerTests.java
@@ -2331,6 +2331,8 @@ public void testVerifierOnMissingReferences() {
     }
 
     public void testVerifierOnMissingReferencesWithBinaryPlans() throws Exception {
+        assumeTrue("Requires LOOKUP JOIN", EsqlCapabilities.Cap.JOIN_LOOKUP_V5.isEnabled());
+
         // Do not assert serialization:
         // This will have a LookupJoinExec, which is not serializable because it doesn't leave the coordinator.
         var plan = physicalPlan("""