diff --git a/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig_test.go b/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig_test.go
index cc6b89dcbfe..3bd13255cff 100644
--- a/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig_test.go
+++ b/exporters/otlp/internal/envconfig/envconfig_test.go
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ func TestWithClientCert(t *testing.T) {
 			option = testOption{TestTLS: &tls.Config{Certificates: []tls.Certificate{c}}}
 		}),
 	)
-	assert.Equal(t, nil, option.TestTLS.Certificates)
+	assert.Nil(t, option.TestTLS)
 
 	reader.GetEnv = func(s string) string { return "" }
 	option.TestTLS = nil
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ func TestWithClientCert(t *testing.T) {
 			option = testOption{TestTLS: &tls.Config{Certificates: []tls.Certificate{c}}}
 		}),
 	)
-	assert.Equal(t, nil, option.TestTLS.Certificates)
+	assert.Nil(t, option.TestTLS)
 }
 
 func TestStringToHeader(t *testing.T) {