diff --git a/tests/rptest/services/redpanda.py b/tests/rptest/services/redpanda.py
index 9d07dfd43d79c..51f80ff0604ee 100644
--- a/tests/rptest/services/redpanda.py
+++ b/tests/rptest/services/redpanda.py
@@ -3383,7 +3383,7 @@ def start_si(self):
             )
         else:
             raise RuntimeError(
-                f"Unsuported cloud_storage_type: {self.si_settings.cloud_storage_type}"
+                f"Unsupported cloud_storage_type: {self.si_settings.cloud_storage_type}"
             )
 
         if not self.si_settings.bypass_bucket_creation:
diff --git a/tests/rptest/tests/recovery_mode_test.py b/tests/rptest/tests/recovery_mode_test.py
index 568ef5d032e70..26dbbccdcf201 100644
--- a/tests/rptest/tests/recovery_mode_test.py
+++ b/tests/rptest/tests/recovery_mode_test.py
@@ -159,7 +159,9 @@ def test_recovery_mode(self):
 
         # check that a new node can join the cluster
 
-        self.redpanda.start(nodes=[joiner_node], auto_assign_node_id=True)
+        self.redpanda.start(nodes=[joiner_node],
+                            auto_assign_node_id=True,
+                            start_si=False)
         self.redpanda.wait_for_membership(first_start=True)
 
         # restart the cluster back in normal mode