diff --git a/src/mongo/db/s/sharding_ddl_coordinator.cpp b/src/mongo/db/s/sharding_ddl_coordinator.cpp
index 8f0962a726..b62a59448a 100644
--- a/src/mongo/db/s/sharding_ddl_coordinator.cpp
+++ b/src/mongo/db/s/sharding_ddl_coordinator.cpp
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 namespace mongo {
 
 MONGO_FAIL_POINT_DEFINE(hangBeforeRunningCoordinatorInstance);
+MONGO_FAIL_POINT_DEFINE(hangAndThrowReplicationError);
 
 namespace {
 
@@ -73,6 +74,10 @@ ShardingDDLCoordinator::~ShardingDDLCoordinator() {
 }
 
 bool ShardingDDLCoordinator::_removeDocument(OperationContext* opCtx) {
+    if (hangAndThrowReplicationError.shouldFail()) {
+        hangAndThrowReplicationError.pauseWhileSet();
+        uasserted(ErrorCodes::WriteConcernFailed, "faking a waiting for replication timed out error");
+    }
     DBDirectClient dbClient(opCtx);
     auto commandResponse = dbClient.runCommand([&] {
         write_ops::DeleteCommandRequest deleteOp(