diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/transform/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/transform/transforms/ClientTransformIndexerTests.java b/x-pack/plugin/transform/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/transform/transforms/ClientTransformIndexerTests.java
index 921e593235c00..45cf3b5761d78 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/transform/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/transform/transforms/ClientTransformIndexerTests.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/transform/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/transform/transforms/ClientTransformIndexerTests.java
@@ -531,7 +531,7 @@ protected <Request extends ActionRequest, Response extends ActionResponse> void
 
                 if ((searchRequest.pointInTimeBuilder() != null
                     && searchRequest.pointInTimeBuilder().getEncodedId().equals("the_pit_id_essential-deleted-index"))
-                    || searchRequest.indices()[0].equals("essential-deleted-index")) {
+                    || (searchRequest.indices().length > 0 && searchRequest.indices()[0].equals("essential-deleted-index"))) {
                     listener.onFailure(new IndexNotFoundException("essential-deleted-index"));
                     return;
                 }