diff --git a/test/probe/test_replication_servers_working.py b/test/probe/test_replication_servers_working.py
index 47de01d00c..79f63b29ea 100644
--- a/test/probe/test_replication_servers_working.py
+++ b/test/probe/test_replication_servers_working.py
@@ -124,14 +124,14 @@ class TestReplicatorFunctions(ReplProbeTest):
                 test_node_dir_list.append(d)
         # Run all replicators
         try:
-            self.replicators.start()
-
             # Delete some files
             for directory in os.listdir(test_node):
                 shutil.rmtree(os.path.join(test_node, directory))
 
             self.assertFalse(os.listdir(test_node))
 
+            self.replicators.start()
+
             # We will keep trying these tests until they pass for up to 60s
             begin = time.time()
             while True: