diff --git a/rest-api-spec/src/main/resources/rest-api-spec/test/indices.stats/20_translog.yml b/rest-api-spec/src/main/resources/rest-api-spec/test/indices.stats/20_translog.yml
index 5c9ec3e597ad9..95398de537069 100644
--- a/rest-api-spec/src/main/resources/rest-api-spec/test/indices.stats/20_translog.yml
+++ b/rest-api-spec/src/main/resources/rest-api-spec/test/indices.stats/20_translog.yml
@@ -3,9 +3,12 @@ setup:
   - do:
       indices.create:
           index: test
-  - do:
-      cluster.health:
-        wait_for_no_initializing_shards: true
+          body:
+           settings:
+             index:
+               # initializing replicas maintain the translog causing the test to fail.
+               # remove once https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/issues/25623 is fixed.
+               number_of_replicas: 0
 
 ---
 "Translog retention":