diff --git a/jstests/libs/fail_point_util.js b/jstests/libs/fail_point_util.js
index 3f37dcbc6f0..008c7c40b46 100644
--- a/jstests/libs/fail_point_util.js
+++ b/jstests/libs/fail_point_util.js
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ configureFailPoint = function(conn, failPointName, data = {}, failPointMode = "a
             // number of times the fail point is entered between the time it returns
             // and the next time it gets called.
             sh.assertRetryableCommandWorkedOrFailedWithCodes(() => {
-                conn.adminCommand({
+                return conn.adminCommand({
                     waitForFailPoint: failPointName,
                     timesEntered: this.timesEntered + timesEntered,
                     maxTimeMS: maxTimeMS
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ configureFailPoint = function(conn, failPointName, data = {}, failPointMode = "a
         },
         off: function() {
             sh.assertRetryableCommandWorkedOrFailedWithCodes(() => {
-                conn.adminCommand({configureFailPoint: failPointName, mode: "off"});
+                return conn.adminCommand({configureFailPoint: failPointName, mode: "off"});
             }, "Timed out disabling fail point " + failPointName);
         }
     };
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ configureFailPointForRS = function(conns, failPointName, data = {}, failPointMod
         off: function() {
             conns.forEach((conn) => {
                 sh.assertRetryableCommandWorkedOrFailedWithCodes(() => {
-                    conn.adminCommand({configureFailPoint: failPointName, mode: "off"});
+                    return conn.adminCommand({configureFailPoint: failPointName, mode: "off"});
                 }, "Timed out disabling fail point " + failPointName);
             });
         }
diff --git a/src/mongo/shell/utils_sh.js b/src/mongo/shell/utils_sh.js
index 233278c3139..c211af972d6 100644
--- a/src/mongo/shell/utils_sh.js
+++ b/src/mongo/shell/utils_sh.js
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ sh.assertRetryableCommandWorkedOrFailedWithCodes = function(cmd, msg, expectedEr
     var res = undefined;
     assert.soon(function() {
         try {
-            res = cmd();
+            res = assert.commandWorked(cmd());
             return true;
         } catch (err) {
             if (err instanceof WriteError && ErrorCodes.isRetriableError(err.code)) {
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ sh.disableAutoMerge = function(coll) {
     }
 
     return sh.assertRetryableCommandWorkedOrFailedWithCodes(() => {
-        dbase.getSiblingDB("config").collections.update(
+        return dbase.getSiblingDB("config").collections.update(
             {_id: coll + ""},
             {$set: {"enableAutoMerge": false}},
             {writeConcern: {w: 'majority', wtimeout: 60000}});
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ sh.enableAutoMerge = function(coll) {
     }
 
     return sh.assertRetryableCommandWorkedOrFailedWithCodes(() => {
-        dbase.getSiblingDB("config").collections.update(
+        return dbase.getSiblingDB("config").collections.update(
             {_id: coll + ""},
             {$unset: {"enableAutoMerge": 1}},
             {writeConcern: {w: 'majority', wtimeout: 60000}});
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ sh.disableBalancing = function(coll) {
     }
 
     return sh.assertRetryableCommandWorkedOrFailedWithCodes(() => {
-        dbase.getSiblingDB("config").collections.update(
+        return dbase.getSiblingDB("config").collections.update(
             {_id: coll + ""},
             {$set: {"noBalance": true}},
             {writeConcern: {w: 'majority', wtimeout: 60000}});
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ sh.enableBalancing = function(coll) {
     }
 
     return sh.assertRetryableCommandWorkedOrFailedWithCodes(() => {
-        dbase.getSiblingDB("config").collections.update(
+        return dbase.getSiblingDB("config").collections.update(
             {_id: coll + ""},
             {$set: {"noBalance": false}},
             {writeConcern: {w: 'majority', wtimeout: 60000}});