diff --git a/cockroachdb/src/jepsen/cockroach/multiregister.clj b/cockroachdb/src/jepsen/cockroach/multiregister.clj
index 6a3e352e4..a2b50565e 100644
--- a/cockroachdb/src/jepsen/cockroach/multiregister.clj
+++ b/cockroachdb/src/jepsen/cockroach/multiregister.clj
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
           (doseq [t table-names]
             (j/execute! c [(str "create table " t
                                 " (ik int primary key, val int)")])
-            (j/execute! c [(str "alter table " t " scatter")])
+            (j/query    c [(str "alter table " t " scatter")])
             (info "Created table" t))))))
 
   (invoke! [this test op]