diff --git a/Lib/test/test_threading.py b/Lib/test/test_threading.py
index e309a54..195c4e8 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_threading.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_threading.py
@@ -276,13 +276,17 @@
         weak_cyclic_object = weakref.ref(cyclic_object)
         cyclic_object.thread.join()
         del cyclic_object
-        self.assertEquals(None, weak_cyclic_object())
+        self.assertEquals(None, weak_cyclic_object(),
+                          msg=('%d references still around' %
+                               sys.getrefcount(weak_cyclic_object())))
 
         raising_cyclic_object = RunSelfFunction(should_raise=True)
         weak_raising_cyclic_object = weakref.ref(raising_cyclic_object)
         raising_cyclic_object.thread.join()
         del raising_cyclic_object
-        self.assertEquals(None, weak_raising_cyclic_object())
+        self.assertEquals(None, weak_raising_cyclic_object(),
+                          msg=('%d references still around' %
+                               sys.getrefcount(weak_raising_cyclic_object())))
 
 
 class ThreadingExceptionTests(unittest.TestCase):