diff --git a/server/src/test/java/org/opensearch/cluster/coordination/JoinTaskExecutorTests.java b/server/src/test/java/org/opensearch/cluster/coordination/JoinTaskExecutorTests.java
index ec93475635419..a019235c99743 100644
--- a/server/src/test/java/org/opensearch/cluster/coordination/JoinTaskExecutorTests.java
+++ b/server/src/test/java/org/opensearch/cluster/coordination/JoinTaskExecutorTests.java
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ public void testPreventJoinClusterWithUnsupportedNodeVersions() {
             expectThrows(IllegalStateException.class, () -> JoinTaskExecutor.ensureMajorVersionBarrier(oldMajor, minNodeVersion));
         }
 
-        final Version minGoodVersion = maxNodeVersion.major == minNodeVersion.major ?
+        final Version minGoodVersion = maxNodeVersion.compareMajor(minNodeVersion) == 0 ?
         // we have to stick with the same major
             minNodeVersion : maxNodeVersion.minimumCompatibilityVersion();
         final Version justGood = randomVersionBetween(random(), minGoodVersion, maxCompatibleVersion(minNodeVersion));