diff --git a/lib/test.js b/lib/test.js
index d2e0c85d..52c0beb1 100644
--- a/lib/test.js
+++ b/lib/test.js
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ Test.prototype.end = function (err) {
     }
 
     if (this.calledEnd) {
-        this.fail('.end() called twice');
+        this.fail('.end() already called');
     }
     this.calledEnd = true;
     this._end();
diff --git a/test/async-await.js b/test/async-await.js
index f23b5036..564e56be 100644
--- a/test/async-await.js
+++ b/test/async-await.js
@@ -125,12 +125,12 @@ tap.test('async5', function (t) {
             'ok 5 res.statusCode is 200',
             'ok 6 mockDb.state is new',
             'ok 7 error on close',
-            'not ok 8 .end() called twice',
+            'not ok 8 .end() already called',
             '  ---',
             '    operator: fail',
             '    at: Server.<anonymous> ($TEST/async-await/async5.js:$LINE:$COL)',
             '    stack: |-',
-            '      Error: .end() called twice',
+            '      Error: .end() already called',
             '          [... stack stripped ...]',
             '          at Server.<anonymous> ($TEST/async-await/async5.js:$LINE:$COL)',
             '          [... stack stripped ...]',
diff --git a/test/double_end.js b/test/double_end.js
index b2fbc5b9..1cc70173 100644
--- a/test/double_end.js
+++ b/test/double_end.js
@@ -40,12 +40,12 @@ test(function (t) {
             'TAP version 13',
             '# double end',
             'ok 1 should be equal',
-            'not ok 2 .end() called twice',
+            'not ok 2 .end() already called',
             '  ---',
             '    operator: fail',
             '    ' + atExpected,
             '    stack: |-',
-            '      Error: .end() called twice',
+            '      Error: .end() already called',
             '          [... stack stripped ...]',
             '          ' + stackExpected,
             '          [... stack stripped ...]',