diff --git a/Lib/test/test_smtplib.py b/Lib/test/test_smtplib.py
index ffa7663df6d..8f64ec17e46 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_smtplib.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_smtplib.py
@@ -831,8 +831,8 @@ def test_with_statement(self):
     def test_with_statement_QUIT_failure(self):
         with self.assertRaises(smtplib.SMTPResponseException) as error:
             with smtplib.SMTP(HOST, self.port) as smtp:
-                self.serv._SMTPchannel.quit_response = '421 QUIT FAILED'
                 smtp.noop()
+                self.serv._SMTPchannel.quit_response = '421 QUIT FAILED'
         self.assertEqual(error.exception.smtp_code, 421)
         self.assertEqual(error.exception.smtp_error, b'QUIT FAILED')