diff --git a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/grid/distributor/local/LocalDistributor.java b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/grid/distributor/local/LocalDistributor.java
index 01eded126079d..280593e5df9e3 100644
--- a/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/grid/distributor/local/LocalDistributor.java
+++ b/java/src/org/openqa/selenium/grid/distributor/local/LocalDistributor.java
@@ -505,7 +505,9 @@ protected Set<NodeStatus> getAvailableNodes() {
     readLock.lock();
     try {
       return model.getSnapshot().stream()
-          .filter(node -> !DOWN.equals(node.getAvailability()))
+          .filter(
+              node ->
+                  !DOWN.equals(node.getAvailability()) && !DRAINING.equals(node.getAvailability()))
           .collect(toImmutableSet());
     } finally {
       readLock.unlock();