diff --git a/Lib/test/test_interpreters/test_api.py b/Lib/test/test_interpreters/test_api.py
index a34b20beaca7a3..c2da7949a9b067 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_interpreters/test_api.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_interpreters/test_api.py
@@ -776,7 +776,7 @@ def test_created_with_capi(self):
             with self.assertRaisesRegex(InterpreterError, 'unrecognized'):
                 interp.prepare_main({'spam': True})
             with self.assertRaisesRegex(ExecutionFailed, 'NameError'):
-                self.run_from_capi(interpid, 'assert spam is True')
+                self.run_from_capi(interpid, 'spam')
 
 
 class TestInterpreterExec(TestBase):