diff --git a/test/parallel/test-debug-agent.js b/test/parallel/test-debug-agent.js
index 0bb5d7f9be25df..d65029e5855b26 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-debug-agent.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-debug-agent.js
@@ -1,6 +1,12 @@
 'use strict';
 require('../common');
 const assert = require('assert');
+const debug = require('_debug_agent');
 
-assert.throws(() => { require('_debug_agent').start(); },
-  assert.AssertionError);
+assert.throws(
+  () => { debug.start(); },
+  function(err) {
+    return (err instanceof assert.AssertionError &&
+            err.message === 'Debugger agent running without bindings!');
+  }
+);