diff --git a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_recno.py b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_recno.py
index 484e7d79fa5..4b36a40a027 100644
--- a/Lib/bsddb/test/test_recno.py
+++ b/Lib/bsddb/test/test_recno.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def test01_basic(self):
         assert not d.has_key(13)
 
         data = d.get_both(26, "z" * 60)
-        assert data == "z" * 60
+        assert data == "z" * 60, 'was %r' % data
         if verbose:
             print data