diff --git a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/repositories/blobstore/BlobStoreRepository.java b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/repositories/blobstore/BlobStoreRepository.java
index a82c05dab0b44..d8015c09193e6 100644
--- a/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/repositories/blobstore/BlobStoreRepository.java
+++ b/server/src/main/java/org/opensearch/repositories/blobstore/BlobStoreRepository.java
@@ -2994,7 +2994,7 @@ public String startVerification() {
      */
     private BlobContainer testContainer(String seed) {
         BlobPath testBlobPath;
-        if (prefixModeVerification == true) {
+        if (prefixModeVerification == true && clusterService.state().nodes().getMinNodeVersion().onOrAfter(Version.V_2_17_0)) {
             PathInput pathInput = PathInput.builder().basePath(basePath()).indexUUID(seed).build();
             testBlobPath = PathType.HASHED_PREFIX.path(pathInput, FNV_1A_COMPOSITE_1);
         } else {