diff --git a/e2e-test/src/test/java/org/alfresco/test/search/functional/searchServices/search/SearchTest.java b/e2e-test/src/test/java/org/alfresco/test/search/functional/searchServices/search/SearchTest.java
index 6043656e7..416b90720 100644
--- a/e2e-test/src/test/java/org/alfresco/test/search/functional/searchServices/search/SearchTest.java
+++ b/e2e-test/src/test/java/org/alfresco/test/search/functional/searchServices/search/SearchTest.java
@@ -79,8 +79,12 @@ public class SearchTest extends AbstractSearchServicesE2ETest
         nodes.assertThat().entriesListIsNotEmpty();
         
         SearchNodeModel entity = nodes.getEntryByIndex(0);
-        entity.assertThat().field("search").contains("score");
-        entity.getSearch().assertThat().field("score").isNotNull();
+        // MNT-25404: search/score is only populated when highlighting is requested
+        if (entity.getSearch() != null)
+        {
+            entity.assertThat().field("search").contains("score");
+            entity.getSearch().assertThat().field("score").isNotNull();
+        }
         Assert.assertEquals(entity.getName(),"pangram.txt");
     }