diff --git a/test/common/index.js b/test/common/index.js
index 8367c150fe669c..07c7c94486320f 100644
--- a/test/common/index.js
+++ b/test/common/index.js
@@ -737,7 +737,7 @@ exports.expectsError = function expectsError(fn, settings, exact) {
     settings = fn;
     fn = undefined;
   }
-  const innerFn = exports.mustCall(function(error) {
+  function innerFn(error) {
     assert.strictEqual(error.code, settings.code);
     if ('type' in settings) {
       const type = settings.type;
@@ -770,12 +770,12 @@ exports.expectsError = function expectsError(fn, settings, exact) {
       });
     }
     return true;
-  }, exact);
+  }
   if (fn) {
     assert.throws(fn, innerFn);
     return;
   }
-  return innerFn;
+  return exports.mustCall(innerFn, exact);
 };
 
 exports.skipIfInspectorDisabled = function skipIfInspectorDisabled() {