diff --git a/src/test/recovery/t/043_vacuum_horizon_floor.pl b/src/test/recovery/t/043_vacuum_horizon_floor.pl
index 5959019393d..51b65048ee3 100644
--- a/src/test/recovery/t/043_vacuum_horizon_floor.pl
+++ b/src/test/recovery/t/043_vacuum_horizon_floor.pl
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ $node_primary->safe_psql($test_db, qq[
 	CREATE TABLE ${table1}(col1 int) with (autovacuum_enabled=false);
 	INSERT INTO $table1 SELECT generate_series(1, 200000);
 	CREATE INDEX on ${table1}(col1);
-	UPDATE $table1 SET col1 = 0 WHERE col1 > 1;
+	DELETE FROM $table1 WHERE col1 > 1;
 	INSERT INTO $table1 VALUES(1);
 ]);