diff --git a/src/cli/program/message/helpers.test.ts b/src/cli/program/message/helpers.test.ts
index 97abd764ae6..43782529757 100644
--- a/src/cli/program/message/helpers.test.ts
+++ b/src/cli/program/message/helpers.test.ts
@@ -109,10 +109,12 @@ function expectMessageCommandOptions(expected: Record<string, unknown>, callInde
   for (const [key, expectedValue] of Object.entries(expected)) {
     expect(options[key], `messageCommand options.${key}`).toEqual(expectedValue);
   }
-  expect(call[1], "messageCommand runtime").not.toBeNull();
-  expect(call[1], "messageCommand runtime").not.toBeUndefined();
-  expect(call[2], "messageCommand deps").not.toBeNull();
-  expect(call[2], "messageCommand deps").not.toBeUndefined();
+  if (call[1] == null) {
+    throw new Error("expected messageCommand runtime");
+  }
+  if (call[2] == null) {
+    throw new Error("expected messageCommand deps");
+  }
 }
 
 describe("runMessageAction", () => {