diff --git a/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/rest/project/CreateBranchIT.java b/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/rest/project/CreateBranchIT.java
index 766089b..1b9a34a 100644
--- a/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/rest/project/CreateBranchIT.java
+++ b/gerrit-acceptance-tests/src/test/java/com/google/gerrit/acceptance/rest/project/CreateBranchIT.java
@@ -98,10 +98,10 @@
 
   private void assertCreateFails(Class<? extends RestApiException> errType, String errMsg)
       throws Exception {
-    exception.expect(errType);
     if (errMsg != null) {
       exception.expectMessage(errMsg);
     }
+    exception.expect(errType);
     branch().create(new BranchInput());
   }