diff --git a/src/test/recovery/t/009_twophase.pl b/src/test/recovery/t/009_twophase.pl
index b790b66b38b..fe7e8e79802 100644
--- a/src/test/recovery/t/009_twophase.pl
+++ b/src/test/recovery/t/009_twophase.pl
@@ -315,6 +315,7 @@ $cur_primary->psql('postgres', "COMMIT PREPARED 'xact_009_12'");
 
 $cur_primary->psql(
 	'postgres', "
+	SET synchronous_commit='remote_apply'; -- To ensure the standby is caught up
 	CREATE TABLE t_009_tbl_standby_mvcc (id int, msg text);
 	BEGIN;
 	INSERT INTO t_009_tbl_standby_mvcc VALUES (1, 'issued to ${cur_primary_name}');