diff --git a/go/test/endtoend/vtcombo/recreate/recreate_test.go b/go/test/endtoend/vtcombo/recreate/recreate_test.go
index 56d0c454bbf..15cb63c3d7d 100644
--- a/go/test/endtoend/vtcombo/recreate/recreate_test.go
+++ b/go/test/endtoend/vtcombo/recreate/recreate_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"os"
 	"os/exec"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -112,6 +113,8 @@ func TestDropAndRecreateWithSameShards(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assertTabletsPresent(t)
 
+	// Check the connection count after the CREATE. There will be zero connections after the DROP as the database
+	// no longer exists, but after it gets recreated any open pools will be able to reestablish connections.
 	mysqlConnCountAfter, err := getMySQLConnectionCount(ctx, cur)
 	require.Nil(t, err)
 
@@ -121,16 +124,11 @@ func TestDropAndRecreateWithSameShards(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func getMySQLConnectionCount(ctx context.Context, session *vtgateconn.VTGateSession) (int, error) {
-	result, err := session.Execute(ctx, "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM information_schema.processlist", nil)
+	result, err := session.Execute(ctx, "select variable_value from performance_schema.global_status where variable_name='threads_connected'", nil)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
-	row := result.Rows[0][0]
-	toInt, err := row.ToInt()
-	if err != nil {
-		return 0, err
-	}
-	return toInt, nil
+	return strconv.Atoi(result.Rows[0][0].ToString())
 }
 
 func assertTabletsPresent(t *testing.T) {