diff --git a/test/pummel/test-exec.js b/test/pummel/test-exec.js
index 781c8ff58585aa..4dee560e042da6 100644
--- a/test/pummel/test-exec.js
+++ b/test/pummel/test-exec.js
@@ -81,8 +81,7 @@ function killMeTwiceCallback(err, stdout, stderr) {
 exec('python -c "print 200000*\'C\'"', {maxBuffer: 1000},
      function(err, stdout, stderr) {
        assert.ok(err);
-       assert.ok(err.killed);
-       assert.equal(err.signal, 'SIGTERM');
+       assert.ok(/maxBuffer/.test(err.message));
      });
 
 process.addListener('exit', function() {