diff --git a/netty/src/test/java/io/grpc/netty/ProtocolNegotiatorsTest.java b/netty/src/test/java/io/grpc/netty/ProtocolNegotiatorsTest.java
index 10862d5a6e1b..aa9a72cd25c3 100644
--- a/netty/src/test/java/io/grpc/netty/ProtocolNegotiatorsTest.java
+++ b/netty/src/test/java/io/grpc/netty/ProtocolNegotiatorsTest.java
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ public void from_tls_clientAuthRequire_noClientCert() throws Exception {
         .build();
     Status status = expectFailedHandshake(channelCreds, serverCreds);
     if (!"ssl exception".equals(status.getDescription())) {
-      assertThat(status.getDescription()).startsWith("io exception");
+      assertThat(status.getDescription()).isEqualTo("io exception");
     }
   }