diff --git a/test/topology_experimental_raft/test_tablets_removenode.py b/test/topology_experimental_raft/test_tablets_removenode.py
index 6da03d6d9f..ab42042e0a 100644
--- a/test/topology_experimental_raft/test_tablets_removenode.py
+++ b/test/topology_experimental_raft/test_tablets_removenode.py
@@ -30,20 +30,24 @@ async def run_async_cl_all(cql, query: str):
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_replace(manager: ManagerClient):
     logger.info("Bootstrapping cluster")
-    cmdline = ['--logger-log-level', 'storage_service=trace']
+    cmdline = [
+        '--logger-log-level', 'storage_service=trace',
+        '--logger-log-level', 'raft_topology=trace',
+    ]
 
-    # 4 nodes so that we can find new tablet replica for the RF=3 table on removenode
-    servers = await manager.servers_add(4, cmdline=cmdline)
+    servers = await manager.servers_add(3, cmdline=cmdline)
 
     cql = manager.get_cql()
 
     await create_keyspace(cql, "test", 32, rf=1)
     await cql.run_async("CREATE TABLE test.test (pk int PRIMARY KEY, c int);")
 
+    # We want RF=2 table to validate that quorum reads work after replacing node finishes
+    # bootstrap which indicates that bootstrap waits for rebuilt.
+    # Otherwise, some reads would fail to find a quorum.
     await create_keyspace(cql, "test2", 32, rf=2)
     await cql.run_async("CREATE TABLE test2.test (pk int PRIMARY KEY, c int);")
 
-    # RF=3
     await create_keyspace(cql, "test3", 32, rf=3)
     await cql.run_async("CREATE TABLE test3.test (pk int PRIMARY KEY, c int);")
 
@@ -54,23 +58,19 @@ async def test_replace(manager: ManagerClient):
     await asyncio.gather(*[run_async_cl_all(cql, f"INSERT INTO test2.test (pk, c) VALUES ({k}, {k});") for k in keys])
     await asyncio.gather(*[run_async_cl_all(cql, f"INSERT INTO test3.test (pk, c) VALUES ({k}, {k});") for k in keys])
 
+    async def check_ks(ks):
+        logger.info(f"Checking {ks}")
+        query = SimpleStatement(f"SELECT * FROM {ks}.test;", consistency_level=ConsistencyLevel.QUORUM)
+        rows = await cql.run_async(query)
+        assert len(rows) == len(keys)
+        for r in rows:
+            assert r.c == r.pk
+
     async def check():
-        # RF=1 table "test" will experience data loss so don't check it.
-        # We include it to check that the system doesn't crash.
-
-        logger.info("Checking table test2")
-        query = SimpleStatement("SELECT * FROM test2.test;", consistency_level=ConsistencyLevel.ONE)
-        rows = await cql.run_async(query)
-        assert len(rows) == len(keys)
-        for r in rows:
-            assert r.c == r.pk
-
-        logger.info("Checking table test3")
-        query = SimpleStatement("SELECT * FROM test3.test;", consistency_level=ConsistencyLevel.ONE)
-        rows = await cql.run_async(query)
-        assert len(rows) == len(keys)
-        for r in rows:
-            assert r.c == r.pk
+        # RF=1 keyspace will experience data loss so don't check it.
+        # We include it in the test only to check that the system doesn't crash.
+        await check_ks("test2")
+        await check_ks("test3")
 
     await check()
 
@@ -81,11 +81,21 @@ async def test_replace(manager: ManagerClient):
     logger.info('Replacing a node')
     await manager.server_stop(servers[0].server_id)
     replace_cfg = ReplaceConfig(replaced_id = servers[0].server_id, reuse_ip_addr = False, use_host_id = True)
-    await manager.server_add(replace_cfg)
+    servers.append(await manager.server_add(replace_cfg))
     servers = servers[1:]
 
     await check()
 
+    # Verify that QUORUM reads from RF=3 table work when replacing finished and we down a single node.
+    # This validates that replace waits for tablet rebuilt before finishing bootstrap, otherwise some reads
+    # would fail to find a quorum.
+    logger.info('Downing a node')
+    await manager.server_stop_gracefully(servers[0].server_id)
+    await manager.server_not_sees_other_server(servers[1].ip_addr, servers[0].ip_addr)
+    await manager.server_not_sees_other_server(servers[2].ip_addr, servers[0].ip_addr)
+
+    await check_ks("test3")
+
 
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_removenode(manager: ManagerClient):