diff --git a/src/plugins/data/public/search/fetch/fetch_soon.test.ts b/src/plugins/data/public/search/fetch/fetch_soon.test.ts
index a8d593c8501f6..d33cb60be0dec 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data/public/search/fetch/fetch_soon.test.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data/public/search/fetch/fetch_soon.test.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ describe('fetchSoon', () => {
     (callClient as jest.Mock).mockClear();
   });
 
-  test('should delay by 0ms if config is set to not batch searches', () => {
+  test('should execute asap if config is set to not batch searches', () => {
     const config = getConfigStub({
       'courier:batchSearches': false,
     });
@@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ describe('fetchSoon', () => {
 
     fetchSoon(request, options, { config } as FetchHandlers);
 
-    expect(callClient).not.toBeCalled();
-    jest.advanceTimersByTime(0);
     expect(callClient).toBeCalled();
   });
 
diff --git a/src/plugins/data/public/search/fetch/fetch_soon.ts b/src/plugins/data/public/search/fetch/fetch_soon.ts
index b1405747426ee..1353aab17cdab 100644
--- a/src/plugins/data/public/search/fetch/fetch_soon.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/data/public/search/fetch/fetch_soon.ts
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ async function delayedFetch(
   fetchHandlers: FetchHandlers,
   ms: number
 ) {
+  if (ms === 0) {
+    return callClient([request], [options], fetchHandlers)[0];
+  }
+
   const i = requestsToFetch.length;
   requestsToFetch = [...requestsToFetch, request];
   requestOptions = [...requestOptions, options];