diff --git a/test/sequential/test-performance.js b/test/sequential/test-performance.js
index ea7e17e18dbe99..c26a7df7616025 100644
--- a/test/sequential/test-performance.js
+++ b/test/sequential/test-performance.js
@@ -60,7 +60,9 @@ function checkNodeTiming(props) {
       const delta = performance.nodeTiming[prop] - props[prop].around;
       assert(Math.abs(delta) < 1000);
     } else {
-      assert.strictEqual(performance.nodeTiming[prop], props[prop]);
+      assert.strictEqual(performance.nodeTiming[prop], props[prop],
+                         `mismatch for performance property ${prop}: ` +
+                         `${performance.nodeTiming[prop]} vs ${props[prop]}`);
     }
   }
 }