diff --git a/x-pack/libbeat/tests/system/test_management.py b/x-pack/libbeat/tests/system/test_management.py
index fc9f70b6331..c3a9e6532f2 100644
--- a/x-pack/libbeat/tests/system/test_management.py
+++ b/x-pack/libbeat/tests/system/test_management.py
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ def random_index(self):
     def check_document_count(self, index, count):
         try:
             self.es.indices.refresh(index=index)
-            return self.es.search(index=index, body={"query": {"match_all": {}}})['hits']['total'] >= count
+            return self.es.search(index=index, body={"query": {"match_all": {}}})['hits']['total']['value'] >= count
         except:
             return False