diff --git a/tests/etl/test_pandas_to_eland.py b/tests/etl/test_pandas_to_eland.py
index 7c1c30c..793bfa8 100644
--- a/tests/etl/test_pandas_to_eland.py
+++ b/tests/etl/test_pandas_to_eland.py
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ class TestPandasToEland:
 
         # Assert that the second pandas dataframe is actually appended
         assert df2.shape == (6, 4)
-        pd_df3 = pd_df.append(pd_df2)
+        # use the "private" append method that's still available in pandas 2.0
+        pd_df3 = pd_df._append(pd_df2)
         assert_pandas_eland_frame_equal(pd_df3, df2)
 
     def test_es_if_exists_append_mapping_mismatch_schema_enforcement(self):