diff --git a/ophyd/tests/test_signal.py b/ophyd/tests/test_signal.py
index f56e9d4c..cd8b33ad 100644
--- a/ophyd/tests/test_signal.py
+++ b/ophyd/tests/test_signal.py
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ def test_describe(bool_enum_signal):
     assert "upper_ctrl_limit" in desc
     assert "lower_ctrl_limit" in desc
 
-    sig = Signal(name="my_pv")
+    sig = Signal(name="my_pv", value="On")
     sig.put("Off")
     desc = sig.describe()["my_pv"]
     assert desc["dtype"] == "string"