diff --git a/elasticpress.php b/elasticpress.php
index 2adef2273a..b5c6dbec99 100644
--- a/elasticpress.php
+++ b/elasticpress.php
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ function( $class ) {
  *
  * @since  2.2
  */
-define( 'EP_ES_VERSION_MAX', '9.0' );
+define( 'EP_ES_VERSION_MAX', '8.99' );
 define( 'EP_ES_VERSION_MIN', '5.2' );
 
 require_once __DIR__ . '/includes/compat.php';
diff --git a/tests/cypress/wordpress-files/test-plugins/unsupported-elasticsearch-version.php b/tests/cypress/wordpress-files/test-plugins/unsupported-elasticsearch-version.php
index 9bc43a6dfd..182f24c664 100644
--- a/tests/cypress/wordpress-files/test-plugins/unsupported-elasticsearch-version.php
+++ b/tests/cypress/wordpress-files/test-plugins/unsupported-elasticsearch-version.php
@@ -18,6 +18,6 @@ function() {
 add_filter(
 	'ep_elasticsearch_version',
 	function() {
-		return '8.0';
+		return '9.0';
 	}
 );