diff --git a/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/protocol/ascii/BaseOpTest.java b/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/protocol/ascii/BaseOpTest.java
index 573eed337..e720a65e1 100644
--- a/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/protocol/ascii/BaseOpTest.java
+++ b/src/test/java/net/spy/memcached/protocol/ascii/BaseOpTest.java
@@ -27,44 +27,62 @@
 
 import net.spy.memcached.compat.BaseMockCase;
 
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertNotEquals;
+
 /**
  * Test the basic operation buffer handling stuff.
  */
 public class BaseOpTest extends BaseMockCase {
 
   public void testAssertions() {
+    String message = "Assertions are not enabled.";
+    AssertionError error = null;
     try {
       assert false;
-      fail("Assertions are not enabled.");
+      fail(message);
     } catch (AssertionError e) {
-      // OK
+      error = e;
     }
+    assertNotNull(error);
+    assertNotEquals(error.getMessage(), message);
   }
 
-  public void testDataReadType() throws Exception {
+  public void testDataReadType() {
+    String message = "Handled a line in data mode";
+    AssertionError error = null;
+
     SimpleOp op = new SimpleOp(OperationReadType.DATA);
     assertSame(OperationReadType.DATA, op.getReadType());
     // Make sure lines aren't handled
     try {
       op.handleLine("x");
-      fail("Handled a line in data mode");
+      fail(message);
     } catch (AssertionError e) {
-      // ok
+      error = e;
     }
+    assertNotNull(error);
+    assertNotEquals(error.getMessage(), message);
+
     op.setBytesToRead(2);
     op.handleRead(ByteBuffer.wrap("hi".getBytes()));
   }
 
-  public void testLineReadType() throws Exception {
+  public void testLineReadType() {
+    String message = "Handled data in line mode";
+    AssertionError error = null;
+
     SimpleOp op = new SimpleOp(OperationReadType.LINE);
     assertSame(OperationReadType.LINE, op.getReadType());
     // Make sure lines aren't handled
     try {
       op.handleRead(ByteBuffer.allocate(3));
-      fail("Handled data in line mode");
+      fail(message);
     } catch (AssertionError e) {
-      // ok
+      error = e;
     }
+    assertNotNull(error);
+    assertNotEquals(error.getMessage(), message);
+
     op.handleLine("x");
   }