diff --git a/test/framework/machinepool_helpers.go b/test/framework/machinepool_helpers.go
index 7aaf40fcefd5..760b942343d7 100644
--- a/test/framework/machinepool_helpers.go
+++ b/test/framework/machinepool_helpers.go
@@ -232,20 +232,22 @@ func ScaleMachinePoolTopologyAndWait(ctx context.Context, input ScaleMachinePool
 		return patchHelper.Patch(ctx, input.Cluster)
 	}, retryableOperationTimeout, retryableOperationInterval).Should(Succeed(), "Failed to scale machine pool topology %s", mpTopology.Name)
 
-	log.Logf("Waiting for correct number of replicas to exist")
+	log.Logf("Waiting for correct number of replicas to exist and have correct number for .spec.replicas")
 	mpList := &expv1.MachinePoolList{}
-	Eventually(func() error {
-		return input.ClusterProxy.GetClient().List(ctx, mpList,
+	mp := expv1.MachinePool{}
+	Eventually(func(g Gomega) int32 {
+		g.Expect(input.ClusterProxy.GetClient().List(ctx, mpList,
 			client.InNamespace(input.Cluster.Namespace),
 			client.MatchingLabels{
 				clusterv1.ClusterNameLabel:                    input.Cluster.Name,
 				clusterv1.ClusterTopologyMachinePoolNameLabel: mpTopology.Name,
 			},
-		)
-	}, retryableOperationTimeout, retryableOperationInterval).Should(Succeed(), "Failed to list MachinePools object for Cluster %s", klog.KRef(input.Cluster.Namespace, input.Cluster.Name))
+		)).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
+		g.Expect(mpList.Items).To(HaveLen(1))
+		mp = mpList.Items[0]
+		return *mp.Spec.Replicas
+	}, retryableOperationTimeout, retryableOperationInterval).Should(Equal(input.Replicas), "MachinePool replicas for Cluster %s does not match set topology replicas", klog.KRef(input.Cluster.Namespace, input.Cluster.Name))
 
-	Expect(mpList.Items).To(HaveLen(1))
-	mp := mpList.Items[0]
 	WaitForMachinePoolNodesToExist(ctx, WaitForMachinePoolNodesToExistInput{
 		Getter:      input.Getter,
 		MachinePool: &mp,
diff --git a/test/infrastructure/docker/exp/internal/controllers/dockermachinepool_controller.go b/test/infrastructure/docker/exp/internal/controllers/dockermachinepool_controller.go
index f9b91e042513..dc1db0eca69e 100644
--- a/test/infrastructure/docker/exp/internal/controllers/dockermachinepool_controller.go
+++ b/test/infrastructure/docker/exp/internal/controllers/dockermachinepool_controller.go
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ func dockerMachineToDockerMachinePool(_ context.Context, o client.Object) []ctrl
 }
 
 // updateStatus updates the Status field for the MachinePool object.
-// It checks for the current state of the replicas and updates the Status of the MachineSet.
+// It checks for the current state of the replicas and updates the Status of the MachinePool.
 func (r *DockerMachinePoolReconciler) updateStatus(ctx context.Context, cluster *clusterv1.Cluster, machinePool *expv1.MachinePool, dockerMachinePool *infraexpv1.DockerMachinePool, dockerMachines []infrav1.DockerMachine) (ctrl.Result, error) {
 	log := ctrl.LoggerFrom(ctx)
 
@@ -405,10 +405,10 @@ func (r *DockerMachinePoolReconciler) updateStatus(ctx context.Context, cluster
 	switch {
 	// We are scaling up
 	case readyReplicaCount < desiredReplicas:
-		conditions.MarkFalse(dockerMachinePool, clusterv1.ResizedCondition, clusterv1.ScalingUpReason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityWarning, "Scaling up MachineSet to %d replicas (actual %d)", desiredReplicas, readyReplicaCount)
+		conditions.MarkFalse(dockerMachinePool, clusterv1.ResizedCondition, clusterv1.ScalingUpReason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityWarning, "Scaling up MachinePool to %d replicas (actual %d)", desiredReplicas, readyReplicaCount)
 	// We are scaling down
 	case readyReplicaCount > desiredReplicas:
-		conditions.MarkFalse(dockerMachinePool, clusterv1.ResizedCondition, clusterv1.ScalingDownReason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityWarning, "Scaling down MachineSet to %d replicas (actual %d)", desiredReplicas, readyReplicaCount)
+		conditions.MarkFalse(dockerMachinePool, clusterv1.ResizedCondition, clusterv1.ScalingDownReason, clusterv1.ConditionSeverityWarning, "Scaling down MachinePool to %d replicas (actual %d)", desiredReplicas, readyReplicaCount)
 	default:
 		// Make sure last resize operation is marked as completed.
 		// NOTE: we are checking the number of machines ready so we report resize completed only when the machines