diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/Coordinator.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/Coordinator.java
index e6acac17da90a..af9a38bec49ed 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/Coordinator.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/Coordinator.java
@@ -1198,9 +1198,13 @@ public Iterable<DiscoveryNode> getFoundPeers() {
      */
     boolean cancelCommittedPublication() {
         synchronized (mutex) {
-            if (currentPublication.isPresent() && currentPublication.get().isCommitted()) {
-                currentPublication.get().cancel("cancelCommittedPublication");
-                return true;
+            if (currentPublication.isPresent()) {
+                final CoordinatorPublication publication = currentPublication.get();
+                if (publication.isCommitted()) {
+                    publication.cancel("cancelCommittedPublication");
+                    logger.debug("Cancelled publication of [{}].", publication);
+                    return true;
+                }
             }
             return false;
         }
diff --git a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/RareClusterStateIT.java b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/RareClusterStateIT.java
index 4c0168c6e3a6c..614bede32889e 100644
--- a/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/RareClusterStateIT.java
+++ b/server/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/cluster/coordination/RareClusterStateIT.java
@@ -141,6 +141,10 @@ public void onFailure(String source, Exception e) {
 
     private <Req extends ActionRequest, Res extends ActionResponse> ActionFuture<Res> executeAndCancelCommittedPublication(
             ActionRequestBuilder<Req, Res> req) throws Exception {
+        // Wait for no publication in progress to not accidentally cancel a publication different from the one triggered by the given
+        // request.
+        assertBusy(
+            () -> assertFalse(((Coordinator) internalCluster().getCurrentMasterNodeInstance(Discovery.class)).publicationInProgress()));
         ActionFuture<Res> future = req.execute();
         assertBusy(
             () -> assertTrue(((Coordinator)internalCluster().getCurrentMasterNodeInstance(Discovery.class)).cancelCommittedPublication()));