diff --git a/test/framework/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/transport/AbstractSimpleTransportTestCase.java b/test/framework/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/transport/AbstractSimpleTransportTestCase.java
index a9e595e0c9134..b83f9e5f6883c 100644
--- a/test/framework/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/transport/AbstractSimpleTransportTestCase.java
+++ b/test/framework/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/transport/AbstractSimpleTransportTestCase.java
@@ -2177,7 +2177,7 @@ public void handleException(TransportException exp) {
                         assertThat(exp.getCause(), instanceOf(NodeNotConnectedException.class));
                     } else {
                         // here the concurrent disconnect was faster and invoked the listener first
-                        assertThat(exp.getClass(), instanceOf(NodeDisconnectedException.class));
+                        assertThat(exp, instanceOf(NodeDisconnectedException.class));
                     }
                 } finally {
                     latch.countDown();