diff --git a/src/zarr/testing/store.py b/src/zarr/testing/store.py
index 53dee012bf..7b19d39552 100644
--- a/src/zarr/testing/store.py
+++ b/src/zarr/testing/store.py
@@ -319,8 +319,9 @@ async def test_set_if_not_exists(self, store: S) -> None:
         data_buf = self.buffer_cls.from_bytes(b"0000")
         await self.set(store, key, data_buf)
 
-        new = self.buffer_cls.from_bytes(b"1111")
-        await store.set_if_not_exists("k", new)  # no error
+        with pytest.raises(Exception):
+            new = self.buffer_cls.from_bytes(b"1111")
+            await store.set_if_not_exists(key, new)
 
         result = await store.get(key, default_buffer_prototype())
         assert result == data_buf