diff --git a/test/parallel/test-http-client-timeout-on-connect.js b/test/parallel/test-http-client-timeout-on-connect.js
index 928f781e261758..3a0098229d9af8 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-http-client-timeout-on-connect.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-http-client-timeout-on-connect.js
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ server.listen(0, common.localhostIPv4, common.mustCall(() => {
   }));
   req.on('timeout', common.mustCall(() => req.abort()));
   req.on('error', common.mustCall((err) => {
-    assert.strictEqual('socket hang up', err.message);
+    assert.strictEqual(err.message, 'socket hang up');
     server.close();
   }));
 }));