diff --git a/tests/test_utils.py b/tests/test_utils.py
index 939845f..d0b7066 100644
--- a/tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_utils.py
@@ -1624,7 +1624,7 @@
 
 def test_raises_unsupported_algorithm_wrong_reason():
     # Check that it fails if the wrong reason code is raised.
-    with pytest.raises(pytest.fail.Exception):
+    with pytest.raises(AssertionError):
         with raises_unsupported_algorithm(None):
             raise UnsupportedAlgorithm("An error.",
                                        _Reasons.BACKEND_MISSING_INTERFACE)
diff --git a/tests/utils.py b/tests/utils.py
index 3e5ea5f..bdbf996 100644
--- a/tests/utils.py
+++ b/tests/utils.py
@@ -74,8 +74,7 @@
     with pytest.raises(UnsupportedAlgorithm) as exc_info:
         yield exc_info
 
-    if exc_info.value._reason is not reason:
-        pytest.fail("Did not get expected reason tag for UnsupportedAlgorithm")
+    assert exc_info.value._reason is reason
 
 
 def load_vectors_from_file(filename, loader):