diff --git a/test/parallel/test-buffer-equals.js b/test/parallel/test-buffer-equals.js
index 2b460c5c6aea1b..3851f05c7b9a6d 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-buffer-equals.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-buffer-equals.js
@@ -13,4 +13,5 @@ assert.ok(!c.equals(d));
 assert.ok(!d.equals(e));
 assert.ok(d.equals(d));
 
-assert.throws(() => Buffer.alloc(1).equals('abc'));
+assert.throws(() => Buffer.alloc(1).equals('abc'),
+              /^TypeError: Argument must be a Buffer$/);