diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/cloning.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/cloning.ts
index 6bf3c9afb3547..a6a46888edda8 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/cloning.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/cloning.ts
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
           await transform.table.assertTransformRowActions(testData.originalConfig.id, false);
 
           await transform.testExecution.logTestStep('should display the define pivot step');
-          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction('Clone');
+          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction(testData.originalConfig.id, 'Clone');
           await transform.wizard.assertSelectedTransformFunction(testData.type);
           await transform.wizard.assertDefineStepActive();
         });
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/creation_index_pattern.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/creation_index_pattern.ts
index 8b5a8c93b00b8..d8867527ba2ac 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/creation_index_pattern.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/creation_index_pattern.ts
@@ -589,7 +589,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
           await transform.table.assertTransformRowActions(testData.transformId, false);
 
           await transform.testExecution.logTestStep('should navigate to discover');
-          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction('Discover');
+          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction(testData.transformId, 'Discover');
 
           if (testData.discoverAdjustSuperDatePicker) {
             await transform.discover.assertNoResults(testData.destinationIndex);
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/deleting.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/deleting.ts
index ce75c4c8b27c2..68530c586b6e2 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/deleting.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/deleting.ts
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
             );
 
             await transform.testExecution.logTestStep('should stop the transform');
-            await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction('Stop');
+            await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction(testData.originalConfig.id, 'Stop');
           }
 
           await transform.testExecution.logTestStep('should display the stopped transform');
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
             'Delete',
             true
           );
-          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction('Delete');
+          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction(testData.originalConfig.id, 'Delete');
           await transform.table.assertTransformDeleteModalExists();
 
           await transform.testExecution.logTestStep('should delete the transform');
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/editing.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/editing.ts
index b1e24eeb3de95..01f93d9e8c0a8 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/editing.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/editing.ts
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
           await transform.table.assertTransformRowActions(testData.originalConfig.id, false);
 
           await transform.testExecution.logTestStep('should show the edit flyout');
-          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction('Edit');
+          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction(testData.originalConfig.id, 'Edit');
           await transform.editFlyout.assertTransformEditFlyoutExists();
         });
 
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/permissions/full_transform_access.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/permissions/full_transform_access.ts
index 1f81b687800c7..d50943fad991a 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/permissions/full_transform_access.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/permissions/full_transform_access.ts
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
 
       it('should display controls in the edit flyout correctly', async () => {
         await transform.testExecution.logTestStep('should show the edit flyout');
-        await transform.table.clickTransformRowActionWithRetry(transformConfigWithPivot.id, 'Edit');
+        await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction(transformConfigWithPivot.id, 'Edit');
         await transform.editFlyout.assertTransformEditFlyoutExists();
 
         await transform.testExecution.logTestStep('should have the description input enabled');
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/starting.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/starting.ts
index 2de0bd2eea257..a4459e26a49be 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/starting.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/transform/starting.ts
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ export default function ({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
 
           await transform.testExecution.logTestStep('should start the transform');
           await transform.table.assertTransformRowActionEnabled(transformId, 'Start', true);
-          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction('Start');
+          await transform.table.clickTransformRowAction(transformId, 'Start');
           await transform.table.confirmStartTransform();
           await transform.table.clearSearchString(testDataList.length);
 
diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/services/transform/transform_table.ts b/x-pack/test/functional/services/transform/transform_table.ts
index 9011466033da9..7c4a45fb601ea 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/services/transform/transform_table.ts
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/services/transform/transform_table.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import { FtrProviderContext } from '../../ftr_provider_context';
 type TransformRowActionName = 'Clone' | 'Delete' | 'Edit' | 'Start' | 'Stop' | 'Discover';
 
 export function TransformTableProvider({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
+  const find = getService('find');
   const retry = getService('retry');
   const testSubjects = getService('testSubjects');
   const browser = getService('browser');
@@ -235,6 +236,30 @@ export function TransformTableProvider({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
       return !subSelector ? row : `${row} > ${subSelector}`;
     }
 
+    public async ensureTransformActionsMenuOpen(transformId: string) {
+      await retry.tryForTime(30 * 1000, async () => {
+        await this.ensureTransformActionsMenuClosed();
+
+        if (!(await find.existsByCssSelector('.euiContextMenuPanel', 1000))) {
+          await testSubjects.click(this.rowSelector(transformId, 'euiCollapsedItemActionsButton'));
+          expect(await find.existsByCssSelector('.euiContextMenuPanel', 1000)).to.eql(
+            true,
+            'Actions popover should exist'
+          );
+        }
+      });
+    }
+
+    public async ensureTransformActionsMenuClosed() {
+      await retry.tryForTime(30 * 1000, async () => {
+        await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
+        expect(await find.existsByCssSelector('.euiContextMenuPanel', 1000)).to.eql(
+          false,
+          'Actions popover should not exist'
+        );
+      });
+    }
+
     public async assertTransformRowActionsButtonEnabled(
       transformId: string,
       expectedValue: boolean
@@ -251,7 +276,7 @@ export function TransformTableProvider({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
     }
 
     public async assertTransformRowActions(transformId: string, isTransformRunning = false) {
-      await testSubjects.click(this.rowSelector(transformId, 'euiCollapsedItemActionsButton'));
+      await this.ensureTransformActionsMenuOpen(transformId);
 
       await testSubjects.existOrFail('transformActionClone');
       await testSubjects.existOrFail('transformActionDelete');
@@ -265,6 +290,8 @@ export function TransformTableProvider({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
         await testSubjects.existOrFail('transformActionStart');
         await testSubjects.missingOrFail('transformActionStop');
       }
+
+      await this.ensureTransformActionsMenuClosed();
     }
 
     public async assertTransformRowActionEnabled(
@@ -276,8 +303,7 @@ export function TransformTableProvider({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
       await retry.tryForTime(60 * 1000, async () => {
         await this.refreshTransformList();
 
-        await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
-        await testSubjects.click(this.rowSelector(transformId, 'euiCollapsedItemActionsButton'));
+        await this.ensureTransformActionsMenuOpen(transformId);
 
         await testSubjects.existOrFail(selector, { timeout: 1000 });
         const isEnabled = await testSubjects.isEnabled(selector);
@@ -288,26 +314,14 @@ export function TransformTableProvider({ getService }: FtrProviderContext) {
           }')`
         );
 
-        // Close the actions menu
-        await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
-      });
-    }
-
-    public async clickTransformRowActionWithRetry(
-      transformId: string,
-      action: TransformRowActionName
-    ) {
-      await retry.tryForTime(30 * 1000, async () => {
-        await browser.pressKeys(browser.keys.ESCAPE);
-        await testSubjects.click(this.rowSelector(transformId, 'euiCollapsedItemActionsButton'));
-        await testSubjects.existOrFail(`transformAction${action}`, { timeout: 1000 });
-        await testSubjects.click(`transformAction${action}`);
-        await testSubjects.missingOrFail(`transformAction${action}`, { timeout: 1000 });
+        await this.ensureTransformActionsMenuClosed();
       });
     }
 
-    public async clickTransformRowAction(action: TransformRowActionName) {
+    public async clickTransformRowAction(transformId: string, action: TransformRowActionName) {
+      await this.ensureTransformActionsMenuOpen(transformId);
       await testSubjects.click(`transformAction${action}`);
+      await testSubjects.missingOrFail(`transformAction${action}`);
     }
 
     public async waitForTransformsExpandedRowPreviewTabToLoad() {