diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/IndexShard.java b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/IndexShard.java
index ea0239aae450d..7509dd86344d2 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/IndexShard.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/shard/IndexShard.java
@@ -2264,7 +2264,13 @@ private <E extends Exception> void bumpPrimaryTerm(long newPrimaryTerm, final Ch
                     onBlocked.run();
                 }
             },
-            e -> failShard("exception during primary term transition", e));
+            e -> {
+                try {
+                    failShard("exception during primary term transition", e);
+                } catch (AlreadyClosedException ace) {
+                    // ignore, shard is already closed
+                }
+            });
         pendingPrimaryTerm = newPrimaryTerm;
         termUpdated.countDown();
     }