diff --git a/test/parallel/test-assert.js b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
index 8cba5ed517aa16..ff2c3f1e3f2d37 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-assert.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-assert.js
@@ -378,7 +378,8 @@ try {
 assert.strictEqual(true, threw,
                    'a.doesNotThrow is not catching type matching errors');
 
-assert.throws(function() { assert.ifError(new Error('test error')); });
+assert.throws(function() { assert.ifError(new Error('test error')); },
+              /^Error: test error$/);
 assert.doesNotThrow(function() { assert.ifError(null); });
 assert.doesNotThrow(function() { assert.ifError(); });