diff --git a/test/alternator/test_metrics.py b/test/alternator/test_metrics.py
index bf1952e8ed..0f5be53b9c 100644
--- a/test/alternator/test_metrics.py
+++ b/test/alternator/test_metrics.py
@@ -104,13 +104,16 @@ def check_increases_metric(metrics, metric_names):
         assert saved_metrics[n] < get_metric(metrics, n, None, the_metrics), f'metric {n} did not increase'
 
 @contextmanager
-def check_increases_operation(metrics, operation_names):
+def check_increases_operation(metrics, operation_names, metric_name = 'scylla_alternator_operation', expected_value=None):
     the_metrics = get_metrics(metrics)
-    saved_metrics = { x: get_metric(metrics, 'scylla_alternator_operation', {'op': x}, the_metrics) for x in operation_names }
+    saved_metrics = { x: get_metric(metrics, metric_name, {'op': x}, the_metrics) for x in operation_names }
     yield
     the_metrics = get_metrics(metrics)
     for op in operation_names:
-        assert saved_metrics[op] < get_metric(metrics, 'scylla_alternator_operation', {'op': op}, the_metrics)
+        if expected_value:
+            assert expected_value == get_metric(metrics, metric_name, {'op': op}, the_metrics) - saved_metrics[op]
+        else:
+            assert saved_metrics[op] < get_metric(metrics, metric_name, {'op': op}, the_metrics)
 
 ###### Test for metrics that count DynamoDB API operations: