diff --git a/test/cluster/test_tablets_merge.py b/test/cluster/test_tablets_merge.py
index a5124af421..5ba2f98d50 100644
--- a/test/cluster/test_tablets_merge.py
+++ b/test/cluster/test_tablets_merge.py
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ async def test_tablet_merge_cross_rack_migrations(manager: ManagerClient, racks)
         rack = f'rack{rack_id+1}'
         servers.extend(await manager.servers_add(3, config=config, cmdline=cmdline, property_file={'dc': 'mydc', 'rack': rack}))
 
-    cql = manager.get_cql()
+    cql, _ = await manager.get_ready_cql(servers)
     ks = await create_new_test_keyspace(cql, f"WITH replication = {{'class': 'NetworkTopologyStrategy', 'replication_factor': {rf}}} AND tablets = {{'initial': 1}}")
     await cql.run_async(f"CREATE TABLE {ks}.test (pk int PRIMARY KEY, c blob) WITH compression = {{'sstable_compression': ''}};")