diff --git a/src/test/java/junit/tests/framework/AssertTest.java b/src/test/java/junit/tests/framework/AssertTest.java
index 42731bb5207e..d971a1ef8426 100644
--- a/src/test/java/junit/tests/framework/AssertTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/junit/tests/framework/AssertTest.java
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public void testAssertStringNotEqualsNull() {
             assertEquals("foo", null);
             fail();
         } catch (ComparisonFailure e) {
-            String unused = e.getMessage(); // why no assertion?
+            assertNotNull(e.getMessage());
         }
     }
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ public void testAssertNullNotEqualsNull() {
         try {
             assertEquals(null, new Object());
         } catch (AssertionFailedError e) {
-            String unused = e.getMessage(); // why no assertion?
+            assertNotNull(e.getMessage());
             return;
         }
         fail();