diff --git a/x-pack/qa/rolling-upgrade/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/upgrades/WatchBackwardsCompatibilityIT.java b/x-pack/qa/rolling-upgrade/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/upgrades/WatchBackwardsCompatibilityIT.java
index e2a2250318008..2330f659230d5 100644
--- a/x-pack/qa/rolling-upgrade/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/upgrades/WatchBackwardsCompatibilityIT.java
+++ b/x-pack/qa/rolling-upgrade/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/upgrades/WatchBackwardsCompatibilityIT.java
@@ -177,9 +177,9 @@ public void testWatcherStats() throws Exception {
         );
     }
 
-    @AwaitsFix(bugUrl="https://github.com/elastic/elasticsearch/issues/33753")
     public void testWatcherRestart() throws Exception {
         executeUpgradeIfNeeded();
+        ensureWatcherStarted();
 
         executeAgainstRandomNode(client -> assertOK(client.performRequest("POST", "/_xpack/watcher/_stop")));
         ensureWatcherStopped();