diff --git a/test/sequential/test-module-loading.js b/test/sequential/test-module-loading.js
index 8e7f641326e7c9..fea3ac04298901 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-module-loading.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-module-loading.js
@@ -251,12 +251,12 @@ assert.deepEqual(children, {
 assert.throws(function() {
   console.error('require non-string');
   require({ foo: 'bar' });
-}, 'path must be a string');
+}, /path must be a string/);
 
 assert.throws(function() {
   console.error('require empty string');
   require('');
-}, 'missing path');
+}, /missing path/);
 
 process.on('exit', function() {
   assert.ok(a.A instanceof Function);