diff --git a/test/util-test.cc b/test/util-test.cc
index ec70da71..be7cc2c7 100644
--- a/test/util-test.cc
+++ b/test/util-test.cc
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ TEST(UtilTest, FormatWindowsError) {
   fmt::internal::format_windows_error(
         actual_message, ERROR_FILE_EXISTS,
         fmt::StringRef("x", std::numeric_limits<size_t>::max()));
-  EXPECT_EQ(fmt::format("error {}", ERROR_FILE_EXISTS), message.str());
+  EXPECT_EQ(fmt::format("error {}", ERROR_FILE_EXISTS), actual_message.str());
 }
 
 TEST(UtilTest, WindowsError) {