diff --git a/test/integration/expel_last_instance_test.lua b/test/integration/expel_last_instance_test.lua
index 2486b96c1..09b90625c 100644
--- a/test/integration/expel_last_instance_test.lua
+++ b/test/integration/expel_last_instance_test.lua
@@ -27,28 +27,6 @@ g.before_all(function()
     g.cluster:start()
 
     g.to_be_expelled = g.cluster:server('B-1')
-    -- wait until all buckets are created
-    t.helpers.retrying({}, function()
-        local count = g.to_be_expelled:exec(function()
-            return _G.vshard.storage.buckets_count()
-        end)
-        t.assert_equals(count, 1500)
-    end)
-
-    g.to_be_expelled:exec(function()
-        -- this fiber will exit if the bucket count is decreased
-        -- we'll need that to check alerts later
-        local fiber = require('fiber')
-        local before_count = _G.vshard.storage.buckets_count()
-        fiber.create(function()
-            while true do
-                if _G.vshard.storage.buckets_count() < before_count then
-                    os.exit(0)
-                end
-                fiber.sleep(0.1)
-            end
-        end)
-    end)
 end)
 
 g.after_all(function()
@@ -57,24 +35,18 @@ g.after_all(function()
 end)
 
 function g.test_expel()
-    g.cluster.main_server:setup_replicaset({
-        weight = 0,
-        uuid = g.to_be_expelled.replicaset_uuid,
-    })
+    g.cluster:wait_until_healthy()
+
+    g.to_be_expelled:stop()
 
     g.cluster.main_server:exec(function(uuid)
         package.loaded.cartridge.admin_disable_servers({uuid})
     end, {g.to_be_expelled.instance_uuid})
 
-
-    local router_alerts
-    t.helpers.retrying({}, function()
-        local alerts = g.cluster.main_server:exec(function()
-            return require('vshard').router.info().alerts
-        end)
-        t.assert_equals(#alerts, 1)
-        router_alerts = alerts
-    end)
+    g.cluster.main_server:setup_replicaset({
+        weight = 0,
+        uuid = g.to_be_expelled.replicaset_uuid,
+    })
 
     t.helpers.retrying({}, function()
         t.assert_equals(
@@ -82,7 +54,7 @@ function g.test_expel()
             {{
                 level = "warning",
                 topic = "vshard",
-                message = router_alerts[1][2],
+                message = "1500 buckets are not discovered",
                 instance_uuid = g.cluster.main_server.instance_uuid,
                 replicaset_uuid = g.cluster.main_server.replicaset_uuid,
             }}
@@ -100,6 +72,8 @@ function g.test_expel()
     -- return g.to_be_expelled back to proceed the expel
     g.to_be_expelled:start()
 
+    g.cluster:wait_until_healthy()
+
     -- enable server before expelling
     g.cluster.main_server:exec(function(uuid)
         package.loaded.cartridge.admin_enable_servers({uuid})