diff --git a/x-pack/test/reporting_api_integration/reporting_and_security/ilm_migration_apis.ts b/x-pack/test/reporting_api_integration/reporting_and_security/ilm_migration_apis.ts
index d1dc091992dd6..6a2139a70dde5 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/reporting_api_integration/reporting_and_security/ilm_migration_apis.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/reporting_api_integration/reporting_and_security/ilm_migration_apis.ts
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
     before(async () => {
       await esArchiver.load('x-pack/test/functional/es_archives/reporting/logs');
       await esArchiver.load('x-pack/test/functional/es_archives/logstash_functional');
+      await reportingAPI.migrateReportingIndices(); // ensure that the ILM policy exists for the first test
     });
 
     after(async () => {