diff --git a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_dir_util.py b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_dir_util.py
index c9f789c8955..51e754a07e3 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/tests/test_dir_util.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/tests/test_dir_util.py
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def test_copy_tree_exception_in_listdir(self, listdir):
         An exception in listdir should raise a DistutilsFileError
         """
         with self.assertRaises(errors.DistutilsFileError):
-            dir_util.copy_tree('src', None)
+            dir_util.copy_tree(self.target, None)
 
 
 def test_suite():